The Rational Expectations Model can be summarized through the use of four equations to define economic activity:
1. The Aggregate Demand Equation:
Where MtV represents total expenditure as defined by the product of the money stock and its velocity (the number of times a unit of currency is used for subsequent transactions). This expression can be rearranged as:
Pt = (V/ YtR)Mt
2. The second equation represents a money supply rule which states that the money supply is proportional to the level of economic activity 'YR' with the addition of a random error term allowing for unexpected monetary shocks to the system:
Mt = θYRt-1 + εt
Over time these shocks tend to cancel out such that E[ εt ] = 0
3. The third equation is the Lucas Aggregate Supply equation. This equation is derived from individual supply equations for different economic agents based on actual prices and expected prices:
Yit = Y*t + b(Pit - E[Pit])
Expectations about the agent's own price are derived by that agent based on observations about the general price level: E[Pit] = f( Pt ). If the firm's actual price 'Pit' exceeds the expected price value E[Pit] then this is situation is characterized by the agent as an increase in the relative price for the agent's product or services (the agent perceives that the market is placing a higher value on its product) and thus this agent will devote more resources to production such that Yit > Y*t where Y* represents some normal level of output by that agent.
Aggregating over all agents in the economy, we have the aggregate supply function which states that actual output will exceed the normal level of output when the actual price level exceeds the expected price level perhaps due to some unanticipated shock to the economy or monetary system:
Yt = Y*t + β(Pt - E[Pt])
4. Finally, we have a fourth equation defining price expectations as rational that is that expectations about the general price level are based on all available information in the most recent time period It-1
This available information sometimes known as the Information Set may include items such as growth rate in the money stock, fiscal policy changes, factor price shocks, and existing inflationary expectations among others.
The model works as follows (refer to figure 1 below):
These agents were "tricked" into producing more output such that they find that they have overproduced. The response to this information about the absolute price level leads to an updating in the agents' expectation about general prices (i.e., E[Pit] are adjusted upwards). Given this update in price expectations, the aggregate supply function shifts upwards such that over time the actual level of output Y* remains unchanged. However, the general price level has increased. Although in the above discussion the demand-side shock was in unanticipated increase in the money stock. similar results would occur from changes in autonomous expenditure resulting from expansionary fiscal policy--the outward demand-side shift leads to a temporary increase in output until price expectations are updated to allow for a reactionary upward shift in aggregate supply.