The authors treat macroeconomic models as composed of large numbers of micro-units or agents of several types and explicitly discuss stochastic dynamic and combinatorial aspects of interactions among them. In mainstream macroeconomics sound microfoundations for macroeconomics have meant incorporating sophisticated intertemporal optimization by representative agents into models. Optimal growth theory, once meant to be normative, is now taught as a descriptive theory in mainstream macroeconomic courses. In neoclassical equilibria flexible prices led the economy to the state of full employment...

This work proposes a new approach to macroeconomics which draws upon the experience of the Japanese economy. The approach is similar to the Old Keynesian view: it rejects the Walrasian approach, and singles out real demand as the fundamental determinant of output in the economy as a whole. However, by maintaining that real demand constraints are important not only in the short-run, but in the long-run as well, it goes beyond what is normally understood as the Keynesian approach. It is also very different from the New Keynesian Economics; in particular, it regards the rigidity of nominal...