(S, s) Inventory Policies in General Equilibrium

We study the aggregate implications of (S, s) inventory policies ina dynamic general equilibrium model with aggregate uncertainty. Firms in themodel's retail sector face idiosyncratic demand risk, and (S, s) inventory policies are optimal because of fixed order costs. The distribution ofinventory holdings affects the aggregate outcome in two ways: variation inthe decision to order and variation in the rate of sale through the pricingdecisions of retailers. We find that both mechanisms must operate toreconcile observations that orders are more volatile than, and inventoryinvestment is positively correlated with, sales, while remaining consistentwith other salient business cycle characteristics. The model exhibits strongamplification for some shocks and persistence to a limited extent.