We survey a number of important results concerning aggregation of dynamic,
stochastic relations, We do not aim at a comprehensive review; instead, we
focus heavily on the results collected in Forni and Lippi [Forni, M., Lippi
, M., 1997. Aggregation and the Microfoundations of Dynamic Macroeconomics.
Oxford University Press, Oxford]. We argue that the representative-agent a
ssumption is misleading and the microfoundation of dynamic macroeconomics s
hould be based on explicit modeling of heterogeneity across agents, An unpl
easant aspect of this modeling strategy is that macroeconomic implications
of micro theory are difficult to obtain. However, difficulties are reduced
by large number results. Moreover, puzzling implications of existing theori
es could be reconciled with empirical evidence on macro data. (C) 1999 Else
vier Science S.A. All rights reserved.