Discrete Time or Continuous Time, that is the Question: The Case of Samuelson’s Multiplier-Accelerator Model

A basic problem in economic dynamics is the choice of continuous-time or discrete-time in mathematical modeling. In this paper, we study the continuous-time Samuelson’s multiplier-accelerator model and compare this continuous-time model with its classical discrete-time model. We find that although time scales do not affect the probability of return to equilibrium solution in Samuelson’s multiplier-accelerator model, but time scales have an influence on the perfect symmetry of periodic motion.