diff --git a/matlab/model_diagnostics.m b/matlab/model_diagnostics.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d0e0bf0f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matlab/model_diagnostics.m
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+function model_diagnostics(M_,options_,oo_)
+% function model_diagnostics(M_,options_,oo_)
+%   computes various diagnostics on the model 
+% INPUTS
+%   M_         [matlab structure] Definition of the model.           
+%   options_   [matlab structure] Global options.
+%   oo_        [matlab structure] Results 
+%    
+% OUTPUTS
+%   none
+%    
+% ALGORITHM
+%   ...
+%    
+% SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
+%   none.
+%  
+
+% Copyright (C) 1996-2009 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+    
+    endo_names = M_.endo_names;
+    lead_lag_incidence = M_.lead_lag_incidence;
+    maximum_lag = M_.maximum_lag;
+    maximum_lead = M_.maximum_lead;
+    
+% missing variables at the current period
+    k = find(lead_lag_incidence(maximum_lag+1,:)==0);
+    if ~isempty(k)
+        disp(['The following endogenous variables aren''t present at ' ...
+                 'the current period in the model:'])
+        for i=1:length(k)
+            disp(endo_names(k(i),:))
+        end
+    end
+    
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