Applied Mathematics, 2018, 9, 512-535 
http://www.scirp.org/journal/am 
ISSN Online: 2152-7393 
ISSN Print: 2152-7385 
 
 
 
Nonlinear Differential Equation of 
Macroeconomic Dynamics for Long-Term 
Forecasting of Economic Development 
Askar Akaev 
Prigogine Institute of Mathematical Investigations of Complex Systems, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia 
 
 
 
How  to  cite  this  paper:  Akaev,  A. (2018) 
Nonlinear  Differential  Equation  of  Ma-
croeconomic  Dynamics 
for  Long-Term 
Forecasting  of  Economic  Development. 
Applied Mathematics, 9, 512-535. 
https://doi.org/10.4236/am.2018.95037 
 
Received: March 20, 2018 
Accepted: May 27, 2018 
Published: May 30, 2018 
 
Copyright © 2018 by author and   
Scientific Research Publishing Inc. 
This work is licensed under the Creative 
Commons Attribution International   
License (CC BY 4.0). 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   
Open Access
 
 
Abstract 
In  this  article  we  derive  a  general  differential  equation  that  describes 
long-term economic growth in terms of cyclical and trend components. Equa-
tion is based on the model of non-linear accelerator of induced investment. A 
scheme  is  proposed  for  obtaining  approximate  solutions  of  nonlinear  diffe-
rential  equation  by  splitting  solution  into  the  rapidly  oscillating  business 
cycles  and  slowly  varying  trend  using  Krylov-Bogoliubov-Mitropolsky  aver-
aging. Simplest modes of the economic system are described. Characteristics 
of the bifurcation point are found and bifurcation phenomenon is interpreted 
as loss of stability making the economic system available to structural change 
and accepting innovations. System being in a nonequilibrium state has a dy-
namics with self-sustained undamped oscillations. The model is verified with 
economic  development  of  the  US  during  the  fifth  Kondratieff  cycle 
(1982-2010). Model adequately describes real process of economic growth in 
both  quantitative  and  qualitative  aspects.  It  is  one  of  major  results  that  the 
model gives a rough estimation of critical points of system stability loss and 
falling  into  a  crisis  recession.  The  model  is  used  to  forecast  the  macroeco-
nomic dynamics of the US during the sixth Kondratieff cycle (2018-2050). For 
this  forecast  we  use  fixed  production  capital  functional  dependence  on  a 
long-term  Kondratieff  cycle  and  medium-term  Juglar  and  Kuznets  cycles. 
More accurate estimations of the time of crisis and recession are based on the 
model  of  accelerating  log-periodic  oscillations.  The  explosive  growth  of  the 
prices of highly liquid commodities such as gold and oil is taken as real pre-
dictors of the global financial crisis. The second wave of crisis is expected to 
come in June 2011. 
 
Keywords 
Long-Term  Economic  Trend,  Cycles,  Nonlinear  Accelerator,  Induced  and 
 
DOI: 10.4236/am.2018.95037    May 30, 2018 
 
512 
Applied Mathematics 
A. Akaev 
 
Autonomous Investment, Differential Equations of Macroeconomic Dynamics, 
Bifurcation, Stability, Crisis Recession, Forecasting, Explosive Growth in the 
Prices of Highly Liquid Commodities as a Predictor of Crisis 
 
1. Introduction 
Economy usually fluctuates around its trend path. These fluctuations are cyclical, 
but irregular. Trend is the result of the factors responsible for long-term growth 
of the economy, such as capital inflows, manpower increase, scientific and tech-
nical progress. Business cycles represent deviations of the real aggregate output 
from its long-term trend caused by distributed in time random supply shocks. In 
1950s there were developed some elegant mathematical models of the theory of 
cycles based on the mechanism of interaction between the multiplier and acce-
lerator [1], as well as neoclassical growth theories using the production functions 
[2]. They became the starting point for all subsequent research in these two cen-
tral issues of macroeconomic dynamics. The main drawback of these models was 
an  isolated  consideration  of  growth  and  cyclical  fluctuations,  whereas  the 
Schumpeterian theory of economic development [3] [4] states that cyclical fluc-
tuations  are  an  integral  part  of  sustainable  economic  growth.  Therefore,  the 
theory of real business cycles (RBC) must necessarily include the interaction of 
the mechanisms of growth and cyclical fluctuations. The tenets of the discrete 
RBC theory were laid in the 1980s by Nobel laureates F. Kydland and E. Prescott 
[5]. They developed an RBC model based on stochastic dynamic model of gen-
eral equilibrium. Their model included a stochastic  version of the  neoclassical 
Solow’s growth model [2]. Kydland’s and Prescott’s discrete RBC model became 
the basic one in macroeconomic computer simulation. 
2. Derivation of the Macroeconomic Dynamics Equation 
Describing the Interaction of Long-Term Growth and 
Business Cycles 
Our first attempt to create a continuous RBC model was described in [6]. This is 
a general differential equation of macroeconomic dynamics based on the inte-
raction of the mechanisms of growth and cyclical fluctuations. Let us start de-
riving this equation following the most fruitful scheme formerly chosen by Phil-
lips [1]. In this scheme it is assumed that the planned values for consumption 
and investment are achieved. We also take this starting point. Hence consump-
tion and investment plans (with a certain lag) turn into actual costs, which give a 
total  output.  If  you  select  the  expenditures  (independent  from  revenue) A  on 
capital investment and consumption, the basic equilibrium condition is written 
as 
Y C I A
+ + ,                                                  (1) 
=
 
DOI: 10.4236/am.2018.95037 
 
where C is consumption; I is actual induced investment.   
513 
Applied Mathematics 
A. Akaev 
Since I represents the actual induced investment at time t caused by changes 
in yield and the lag in the form of an exponential function, I satisfies the delay 
differential equation: 
I
d
t
d
= −
æ
( )
I t
−
( )
J t
                                         
(2) 
 
where J(t) is potential capital investment; æ is lag reaction rate, while time lag 
constant is T = 1/æ. The volume of investments J(t) and the current rate of yield   
  [1],   
change are connected in general via nonlinear accelerator 
( )
J t
ψ ν
= 
Y
d
t
d
where v is power of the accelerator (v > 0). Goodwin has shown [1] that the most 
appropriate function for the nonlinear accelerator is the logistic function. Con-
sequently, we have 
( )
J t
=
1
2
th
kv Y
d
t
2 d
≅
kv Y
d
1
t
2 2 d
−
kv Y
d
1
t
3 2 d
3
.
                      
(3) 
Here we have taken first two terms of power series, which is a good approxi-
  that is always true for real values of v 
<
mation within the condition 
Y
and  d
t
d
Y
. Since for small values of  d
t
d
kv Y
d
t
2 d
π
2
  there occurs the simplest or linear ac-
celerator 
( )
J t
=
v
, then (3) directly implies that k = 4. Thus we use the fol-
lowing approximation for the nonlinear accelerator according to Goodwin: 
Y
d
t
d
( )
J t
≅
1
−
4
3
v
Y
d
t
d
2
v
Y
d
t
d
                                     
(4) 
We return to the basic equilibrium condition (1). Since demand lags are ab-
, where c and s are the coef-
sent, and planned consumption is 
ficients of consumption and savings, aggregate demand will be equal to 
C сY
(
1
= −
)
s Y
=
                                              (5) 
Supply  is  also  taken  with  a  continuously  distributed  lag  of  the  exponential 
)
s Y I A
.
+ +
(
1
= −
Z
form and the reaction rate λ: 
Y
d
t
d
(
λ= −
Y Z
−
)
.
                                             
(6) 
Equations ((2), (5) and (6)) are the model equations for a real economic sys-
tem. In order to obtain a differential equation for the yield of Y it is necessary to 
eliminate Z and I from the model equations. For this purpose we first substitute 
(5)  for  (6),  noting  that  in  (5)  we  have  potential  or  expected  (
  variable 
(
Z
1
= −
  as  independent  invest-
values,  i.e. 
ment,  while 
I=   accords  to  the  accepted  premise  of  the  model.  Hence  we 
eI
have   
.  However, 
,e
Y I
)
s Y
A=
e
A
eA
+
+
)
e
I
e
e
 
DOI: 10.4236/am.2018.95037 
 
Y
d
t
d
= −
λ
Y
(
1
− −
)
s Y
e
− −
I A
.
  
514 
Applied Mathematics 
Solving the last equation for I and differentiating the resulting expression we 
obtain, respectively: 
A. Akaev 
 
I
I
d
t
d
=
=
Y
1 d
tλ
d
2
Y
1 d
2
tλ
d
+
(
1
+ − −
Y
)
s Y
e
−
A
;
 
Y
d
t
d
(
1
− −
)
s
e
Y
d
t
d
−
YA
d
t
d
.
 
Substituting these expressions into Equation (2) we obtain the following dif-
ferential equation for the yield Y: 
1
2
Y
d
2
t
d
λ
æ æ
+ −
v
λ
+
−
4
χ
3
v
Y
d
t
d
+
(
Y
æ 1
æ
λ λ
−
−
)
s Y
e
=
2
A
d
λ
t
d
Y
d
t
d
−
(
1
λ
−
)
s
e
Y
d
t
d
 
æ Aλ+
                                (7) 
Here constant χ takes only two values, 0 or 1. At 
Phillips model with a linear accelerator, and if 
model with nonlinear accelerator [1]. 
Y Y=
If in Equation (7) we assume 
e
0χ=   we have the classic 
1χ=   we have the Phillips-Goodwin 
since yield Y is an unplanned value, and if we set 
then we come to the well-known equation of Phillips [1]: 
, which is a very rough approximation, 
  as well, 
0χ=   and 
const
А =
2
Y
d
2
t
d
+
(
s
λ
+ −
æ æ
v
λ
)
Y
d
t
d
+
æ
λ
sY
=
A
æ .
λ
 
Unlike Phillips and Goodwin, we will include into (7) an expression for the 
potential (expected) value of yield 
eY   defined by the basic factors of produc-
tion, i.e. capital (K) and labor (L). As it is well known [2], the connection of yield 
with factors of production is determined by the production function of the form 
,  which  represents  the  trajectory  of  long-term  economic  growth. 
Y F K L
Since  the  production  functions  possess  the  homogeneity  property,  they  satisfy 
Euler’s equation [7]: 
=
(
)
,
aK
Y
∂
K
∂
+
bL
Y
∂
L
∂
=
hY
,
 
where a, b and h are constant coefficients. This implies the desired approximate 
expression for the expected value of 
a
h
eY   yield: 
Y
b
∂
K h
∂
Y
∂
L
∂
(8) 
                                       
K
Y
Y
L
≅
=
+
e
.
It  is  obvious  that  this  approximation  is  more  accurate  than  the  very  rough 
. But the main advantage of this approach is that it 
Phillips’s assumption 
provides an opportunity to introduce production factors into the basic equation. 
Differentiating (8) on time and performing the necessary simplification, we ob-
tain:   
Y Y=
e
 
DOI: 10.4236/am.2018.95037 
 
eY
d
t
d
≅
Y K
d
∂
K t
d
∂
+
Y L
d .
∂
L t
d
∂
                                         
(9) 
515 
Applied Mathematics 
A. Akaev 
 
L
It is necessary to exclude  d
t
d
establishing the relationship between change in unemployment rate ( и и∗−
change in yield ( FY
  from here. For this we use the Okun’s law [8] 
Y− ):   
) and 
Y
Y
−
F
Y
F
=
(
γ
∗
u u
−
)
.                                            (10) 
(
FY L∗
)
)
2 3
γ= ÷ ); 
Here γ is Okun’s parameter (
  is the national income at full 
(
employment, 
Y L   is the actual yield in the presence of market unemployment; 
L* is the number of workers at full employment; L is the actual number of work-
ers  employed  in  production; u*  is  the  natural  rate  of  unemployment  corres-
ponding  to  full  employment  L*;  u  is  the  actual  level  of  unemployment.  As   
∗
L
L
,  then  from  (10)  it  follows  that 
−
∗
L
. Differentiating both sides of this relation, we obtain the required ex-
,  where 
− =
FY
γ∗
∗
L
Y
L
−
(
)
и и
−
∗
=
=
γ γ∗
FY
∗
L
pression: 
L
d
t
d
Y
1 d
tγ∗=
d
.                                                (11) 
As is known, the average labor productivity 
KY
*
L
  is associated with extreme 
(marginal) labor productivity 
∂
Y
∂
L
  as follows [9]: 
Y
∂
L
∂
≅
β
FY
*
L
. Therefore,   
*
γ
=
γ
β
Y
∂
L
∂
.                                                  (12) 
Substituting (11) and (12) into the initial expression (9), we obtain: 
eY
d
t
d
+
=
Y
d
t
d
Y K
d
∂
K t
d
∂
β
γ
eY
eY   (8) and  d
t
d
.                                        (13) 
  (13) into Equation (7). As a 
Now it remains to substitute 
result,  we  obtain  the  desired  total  differential  equation  of  macroeconomic  dy-
namics: 
d
d
2
Y
2
t
+
+ −
æ æ
(
1
λ λ
−
v
λ
−
)
s
β
γ
+
χ λ
æ
4
3
v v
Y
d
t
d
2
 
Y
d
t
d
 
+
(
Y
æ 1
æ
λ λ
−
−
)
s Y
−
(
1
λ
−
)
s
Y K
d
∂
K t
d
∂
=
λ
A
d
t
d
+
æ
A
                
(14) 
Under suitable initial and boundary conditions the Equation (14) allows find-
ing the flow of yield. This equation takes into account the law of capital accu-
mulation, as well as the Okun law establishing a connection between the fluctua-
tions in unemployment and yield fluctuations. Some of coefficients may be ran-
dom variables. The right side of the equation usually contains a random com-
ponent. Therefore in general Equation (14) we find a stochastic differential equ-
516 
Applied Mathematics 
 
DOI: 10.4236/am.2018.95037 
 
A. Akaev 
 
( )Y t
= − , and slowly varying 
. This approach makes it relatively easy to find both dependences. 
ation, combining deterministic and stochastic approaches of the study of real busi-
ness cycles. In this equation, we are dealing with two variables that characterize the 
yield:  the  rapidly  changing  variable Y(t),  which  contains  the  cyclical  fluctuations 
, representing the trend curve. This circums-
y Y Y
tance makes it possible to separate them using Krylov-Bogoliubov-Mitropolsky av-
eraging [10]. Indeed, we can first average the rapidly changing variable y(t) and 
get a simplified description of the system dynamics—long-term trend described 
by 
( )Y t
For further analysis of Equation (14) it is important to distinguish the trend 
component in its right side, which is determined by the investments indepen-
dent from income. This includes the investment of public and private organiza-
tions into the development  of public infrastructure, and investment caused by 
scientific and technological  progress, inventions  and technological innovations 
that not only define the long-term growth, but also affect the short-term fluctua-
tions,  since  they  are  irregular.  It  also  includes  independent  expenditures  on 
household  consumption.  Thus,  the  independent  investment 
  can  always 
be  represented  as 
  is  trend  component  (e.g., 
( )
( )tϕ   is  quasi-periodic  function  oscillating  around  the  trend 
A t
component. Thus, the right side of the equation becomes: 
æ
ϕ
.                              (15) 
d
ϕ
+
t
d
,  where 
( )
tϕ
( )
A t
( )
А t
( )A t
A
d
t
d
A
d
t
d
( )A t
0egt
A=
); 
æ
æ
A
A
=
+
+
=
+
+
The second term on the right side of this expression has a direct influence on 
cyclical fluctuations. 
First of all, we distinguish in the basic Equation (14) the cyclical fluctuations 
2
described by the variable  y Y Y
= − . For this, first, the nonlinear term 
ν
Y
d
t
d
 
will replace with approximation 
2
ν
y
d
t
d
  to use the principle of superposition, 
because  Y   is a slowly varying function in comparison with Y or y. Moreover, 
)0
. 
this nonlinear term is retained only with 
Substituting  Y
2
d
t
d
= +   into the Equation (14) we obtain: 
y Y
y
y
d
s
−
+
2
t
d
(
1
σ ω λ
  and lacks with 
Y K
d
∂
K t
d
∂
2
σ ω
(
y χ=
Y χ=
)1
2
Y
+
+
+
+
−
y
(
)
(16) 
2
Y
d
2
t
d
d
ϕ
+
t
d
Y
d
t
d
æ .
ϕ
=
λ
A
d
t
d
+
æ
A
+
λ
Here   
             
 
2
æ;
ω λ=
              (17) 
σ λ
æ 1 s
= + − −
(
)
λ
β
γ
−
v
æ
λ
1
−
2
4
3
v
y
d
t
d
2
ω λ=
æ ;s
 
σ λ
= + −
æ æ
v
λ
(
1
− −
s
;
)
λ
β
.
γ
 
 
DOI: 10.4236/am.2018.95037 
 
As  Y
∂
L
∂
  and  Y
∂
K
∂
  are both slowly varying functions they can be replaced by   
517 
Applied Mathematics 
A. Akaev 
the expressions obtained from profit maximization within the model of perfect 
competition [7]: 
 
Y
∂
K
∂
=
i
;
Y
∂
L
∂
=
w
≅
,FY
β ∗
L
 
where the i is rate of interest; w is real wages; β reflects the elasticity of output to 
labor  in  the  Cobb-Douglas  production  function.  We  have  already  used  earlier 
the second of these relations. Therefore Equation (16) has the form: 
d
d
2
t
y
2
+
2
δ ω
+
y
d
t
d
y
+
=
λ
A
d
t
d
+
æ
A
+
λ
2
Y
d
2
t
d
d
ϕ
+
t
d
Y
d
t
d
(
æ
1
ϕ λ
+
+
δ
+
2
Y
ω
(18) 
−
)
s i
K
d
t
d
.
                     
At the next step we use averaging on (18) for rapidly changing variables y and 
φ and get a simplified differential equation that describes only its trend trajecto-
ry: 
d
d
2
Y
2
t
+
σ ω λ
Y
d
t
d
2
Y
+
=
A
d
t
d
+
æA
+
(
1
λ
−
)
s i
K
d
t
d
=
( )
F t
1
.            (19) 
Initial conditions are as follows: 
Y
t T
=
0
=
Y
0
Y
d;
t
d
t T
=
0
=
x
0
.
                                       
(20) 
t
2
y
=
+
+
y
d
t
d
æ
ϕ
d
ϕ
+
t
d
σ ω λ
describing  the  cyclical  fluctuations.  In  this   
The principle of averaging leads to the equation   
2
y
2
d
d
equation  we  must  take  into  account  the  nonlinearity  of  the  accelerator  com-
prised  in  the  coefficient σ (17).  Therefore,  we  will  analyze  the  solution  of  the 
nonlinear differential equation in the form: 
2
( )
y F t
σ
0
(21) 
y
d
t
d
y
d
t
d
v
æ
λ
d
d
2
ω
4
3
y
2
2
t
−
−
=
2
+
 
,
3
                     
where 
σ
0
= −
+ −
æ æ
(
1
λ λ
−
v
λ
−
)
s
β
γ
; 
2
æω λ=
; 
h a
β= − . 
b
The resulting equation is widely known as the Rayleigh equation, which is of 
great importance in the theory of oscillations. 
3
v
y
d
t
d
, which provides maintenance of the persistent cyclical fluctuations   
Equation  (21)  includes  a  non-linear  accelerator  investment  equal  to 
λ
k
4
3
in  economic  system.  Economic  system  with  nonlinear  accelerator  is  a  classic 
self-oscillating  system  in  which  the  role  of  positive  feedback  mechanism  is 
played by non-linear accelerator, and the power of the accelerator ν is the gain. If 
the gain is large enough (
), self-sustaining oscillations appear in the sys-
tem, whose characteristics are determined by internal (structural) system para-
meters [11]. Thus, at 
  there is a bifurcation of the cycle in the system. 
In  deriving  Equation  (21)  the  cyclical  unemployment  was  also  taken  into  ac-
1.05
1.05
ν=
ν>
 
DOI: 10.4236/am.2018.95037 
 
518 
Applied Mathematics 
A. Akaev 
 
count,  which  occurs  in  periods  of  recession,  allowing  us  to  consider  the  real 
economy  with  underemployment.  It  is  known  that  fluctuations  in  unemploy-
ment are associated with fluctuations in actual yield according to Okun law [8]. 
We have already noted that the power of the accelerator is a control parameter 
and has a decisive influence on the dynamics of the economic system, the forma-
tion of long-term growth trajectory. Since the power of the accelerator is pro-
portional  to  the  business  activity,  while  the  latter  is  determined  by  economic 
conditions in the first approximation, we can assume that it is changing slowly, a 
sinusoidal, in sync with large Kondratieff cycle, i.e.: 
υ υ
0
=
−
υ
1
2
sin
ψ υ
≥
,
t
0
                                       
(22) 
ψ=
As  the  duration  of  the  fifth  Kondratieff  cycle  is  35  years  [12],  we  can  take 
  years). The range of practical changes in the accelerator 
. In further calculations 
11π 34.5
2υ< <   [11], so it is expedient that 
2
11
T =
0 1.0υ ≥
  (
≈
power is  0
we take 
1.1υ =
0
. 
Examples of modeling modes of economic system development 
Linear differential Equation (19) with constant coefficients can be integrated 
in analytical form. For a nonlinear differential Equation (21), in the case of weak 
nonlinearity, the accelerator (for small power of accelerator) can also obtain an 
approximate solution in explicit analytical form using the averaging method by 
Krylov-Bogolyubov-Mitropolsky.  These  cases  are  considered  in  detail  in  [13]. 
We give three specific examples. 
The first example illustrates the natural oscillations of the economic system. 
0ϕ∗ = . Assume that the trajectory of the trend 
External influence is absent, i.e. 
is  exponential.  Then,  solving  Equation  (21)  by  averaging,  we  obtain  cyclical 
fluctuations 
. Then, by superposition of the trend and cyc-
lical fluctuations of the trajectory, we obtain very simple approximate formula 
for describing the steady-state issue: 
(
)
tω ϑ
y
0 cos
стy
=
+
стY
pt
=
e
+
y
0
cos
(
)
ω ϑ
+
t
,
y
0
=
σ
0
σ
1
,
(23) 
                           
=
2
1 æσ λνω
where 
trajectory of economic development is presented in Figure 1. 
; p  is  trend  growth  rate.  The  graph  of  the  corresponding 
3
The second example shows the effect of external periodic perturbations. As-
. In this case, the superposition of solutions of Equations 
sinq
∗ =
t
ν
ϕ
sume that 
((19) and (21)) has the form: 
Y
ст
pt
=
e
+
)
σ ω ϑ
cos
+
(
t
3
+
q
−
2
2
ω ν
sin
t
ν
,                          (24) 
where 
σ
3
=
U
4
σ σ ν
0
(
6
−
2
2
3
σω
2
)2
; 
σ
2
=
4 æ
3
3
λν
; 
U
=
q
−
2
2
ω ν
. 
 
DOI: 10.4236/am.2018.95037 
 
Trajectory of the issue (24) is shown in Figure 2. 
The third example illustrates the effect on the autonomous system of the sta-
519 
Applied Mathematics