Welfare Cost of (Low) Inflation

Welfare Cost of (Low) Inflation

Author: Mr.Howell H. Zee

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 1998-08-01

Total Pages: 22

ISBN-13: 1451853440

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This paper provides general equilibrium estimates of the steady-state welfare gains of lowering inflation from a low level to close to price stability, using an overlapping-generations growth model. Money demand is modeled on the basis that real money balances are a factor of production. Assuming a standard Fisher equation modified by the presence of an income tax, it is found that inflation unambiguously reduces capital intensity, drives up the before-tax real rate of return to capital, and unambiguously imposes a life-time welfare cost. This welfare cost is, however, quantitatively very modest (under 0.2 percent of GDP annually) within reasonable ranges of all parameter values.


Book Synopsis Welfare Cost of (Low) Inflation by : Mr.Howell H. Zee

Download or read book Welfare Cost of (Low) Inflation written by Mr.Howell H. Zee and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 1998-08-01 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper provides general equilibrium estimates of the steady-state welfare gains of lowering inflation from a low level to close to price stability, using an overlapping-generations growth model. Money demand is modeled on the basis that real money balances are a factor of production. Assuming a standard Fisher equation modified by the presence of an income tax, it is found that inflation unambiguously reduces capital intensity, drives up the before-tax real rate of return to capital, and unambiguously imposes a life-time welfare cost. This welfare cost is, however, quantitatively very modest (under 0.2 percent of GDP annually) within reasonable ranges of all parameter values.


On Price Stability and Welfare

On Price Stability and Welfare

Author: Mr.Etienne B. Yehoue

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2012-07-01

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13: 147550537X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The financial crisis in the advanced countries that began in 2007 has led central bankers to adopt unconventional policy measures as policy interest rates neared the zero bound. One suggestion (Blanchard, Dell’Ariccia, and Mauro, 2010) has been to raise inflation targets to provide more room for policy rate easing during crises. This paper addresses a different issue: the relationship between inflation and welfare. The literature is surveyed and a model is developed. A key conclusion is that an increase in inflation targets gives rise to additional welfare costs, even after the extra room to maneuver above the zero lower bound for nominal policy rates is taken into account. Based on parameter values that fit U.S. data, the additional welfare costs of raising inflation targets from 2 to 4 percent are estimated at about 0.3 percent of annual real income. A rise to 10 percent would yield additional welfare costs of about 1 percent of real income. Other parameter values yield welfare costs as high as 7 (respectively 30) percent of real income for raising inflation targets from 2 to 4 (respectively from 2 to 10) percent. The full costs of raising inflation targets are likely to be higher because the model used to generate these estimates does not account for higher inflation-induced volatility.


Book Synopsis On Price Stability and Welfare by : Mr.Etienne B. Yehoue

Download or read book On Price Stability and Welfare written by Mr.Etienne B. Yehoue and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2012-07-01 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The financial crisis in the advanced countries that began in 2007 has led central bankers to adopt unconventional policy measures as policy interest rates neared the zero bound. One suggestion (Blanchard, Dell’Ariccia, and Mauro, 2010) has been to raise inflation targets to provide more room for policy rate easing during crises. This paper addresses a different issue: the relationship between inflation and welfare. The literature is surveyed and a model is developed. A key conclusion is that an increase in inflation targets gives rise to additional welfare costs, even after the extra room to maneuver above the zero lower bound for nominal policy rates is taken into account. Based on parameter values that fit U.S. data, the additional welfare costs of raising inflation targets from 2 to 4 percent are estimated at about 0.3 percent of annual real income. A rise to 10 percent would yield additional welfare costs of about 1 percent of real income. Other parameter values yield welfare costs as high as 7 (respectively 30) percent of real income for raising inflation targets from 2 to 4 (respectively from 2 to 10) percent. The full costs of raising inflation targets are likely to be higher because the model used to generate these estimates does not account for higher inflation-induced volatility.


Welfare Costs of Inflation, Seigniorage, and Financial innovation

Welfare Costs of Inflation, Seigniorage, and Financial innovation

Author: Mr.Jose De Gregorio

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 1991-01-01

Total Pages: 34

ISBN-13: 145193128X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This paper examines the welfare effects of mitigating the costs of inflation. In a simple model where money reduces transaction costs, a fall in the costs of inflation is equivalent to financial innovation. This can be caused by paying interest on deposits, indexing money, or “dollarizing.” Results indicate that financial innovation raises welfare in low inflation economies while reducing it in high inflation economies, due to the offsetting indirect effect of higher inflation to finance the budget.


Book Synopsis Welfare Costs of Inflation, Seigniorage, and Financial innovation by : Mr.Jose De Gregorio

Download or read book Welfare Costs of Inflation, Seigniorage, and Financial innovation written by Mr.Jose De Gregorio and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 1991-01-01 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper examines the welfare effects of mitigating the costs of inflation. In a simple model where money reduces transaction costs, a fall in the costs of inflation is equivalent to financial innovation. This can be caused by paying interest on deposits, indexing money, or “dollarizing.” Results indicate that financial innovation raises welfare in low inflation economies while reducing it in high inflation economies, due to the offsetting indirect effect of higher inflation to finance the budget.


The Costs and Benefits of Price Stability

The Costs and Benefits of Price Stability

Author: Martin Feldstein

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2007-12-01

Total Pages: 374

ISBN-13: 0226241769

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In recent years, the Federal Reserve and central banks worldwide have enjoyed remarkable success in their battle against inflation. The challenge now confronting the Fed and its counterparts is how to proceed in this newly benign economic environment: Should monetary policy seek to maintain a rate of low-level inflation or eliminate inflation altogether in an effort to attain full price stability? In a seminal article published in 1997, Martin Feldstein developed a framework for calculating the gains in economic welfare that might result from a move from a low level of inflation to full price stability. The present volume extends that analysis, focusing on the likely costs and benefits of achieving price stability not only in the United States, but in Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom as well. The results show that even small changes in already low inflation rates can have a substantial impact on the economic performance of different countries, and that variations in national tax rules can affect the level of gain from disinflation.


Book Synopsis The Costs and Benefits of Price Stability by : Martin Feldstein

Download or read book The Costs and Benefits of Price Stability written by Martin Feldstein and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2007-12-01 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent years, the Federal Reserve and central banks worldwide have enjoyed remarkable success in their battle against inflation. The challenge now confronting the Fed and its counterparts is how to proceed in this newly benign economic environment: Should monetary policy seek to maintain a rate of low-level inflation or eliminate inflation altogether in an effort to attain full price stability? In a seminal article published in 1997, Martin Feldstein developed a framework for calculating the gains in economic welfare that might result from a move from a low level of inflation to full price stability. The present volume extends that analysis, focusing on the likely costs and benefits of achieving price stability not only in the United States, but in Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom as well. The results show that even small changes in already low inflation rates can have a substantial impact on the economic performance of different countries, and that variations in national tax rules can affect the level of gain from disinflation.


A Transitional Analysis of the Welfare Cost of Inflation

A Transitional Analysis of the Welfare Cost of Inflation

Author: Clark A. Burdick

Publisher:

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis A Transitional Analysis of the Welfare Cost of Inflation by : Clark A. Burdick

Download or read book A Transitional Analysis of the Welfare Cost of Inflation written by Clark A. Burdick and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Reducing Inflation

Reducing Inflation

Author: Christina D. Romer

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2007-12-01

Total Pages: 434

ISBN-13: 0226724832

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

While there is ample evidence that high inflation is harmful, little is known about how best to reduce inflation or how far it should be reduced. In this volume, sixteen distinguished economists analyze the appropriateness of low inflation as a goal for monetary policy and discuss possible strategies for reducing inflation. Section I discusses the consequences of inflation. These papers analyze inflation's impact on the tax system, labor market flexibility, equilibrium unemployment, and the public's sense of well-being. Section II considers the obstacles facing central bankers in achieving low inflation. These papers study the precision of estimates of equilibrium unemployment, the sources of the high inflation of the 1970s, and the use of non-traditional indicators in policy formation. The papers in section III consider how institutions can be designed to promote successful monetary policy, and the importance of institutions to the performance of policy in the United States, Germany, and other countries. This timely volume should be read by anyone who studies or conducts monetary policy.


Book Synopsis Reducing Inflation by : Christina D. Romer

Download or read book Reducing Inflation written by Christina D. Romer and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2007-12-01 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While there is ample evidence that high inflation is harmful, little is known about how best to reduce inflation or how far it should be reduced. In this volume, sixteen distinguished economists analyze the appropriateness of low inflation as a goal for monetary policy and discuss possible strategies for reducing inflation. Section I discusses the consequences of inflation. These papers analyze inflation's impact on the tax system, labor market flexibility, equilibrium unemployment, and the public's sense of well-being. Section II considers the obstacles facing central bankers in achieving low inflation. These papers study the precision of estimates of equilibrium unemployment, the sources of the high inflation of the 1970s, and the use of non-traditional indicators in policy formation. The papers in section III consider how institutions can be designed to promote successful monetary policy, and the importance of institutions to the performance of policy in the United States, Germany, and other countries. This timely volume should be read by anyone who studies or conducts monetary policy.


Monetary Policy in Low-Inflation Economies

Monetary Policy in Low-Inflation Economies

Author: David E. Altig

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2009-07-31

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 0521848504

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The essays in this volume investigate the challenges of transitioning to lower levels of inflation and conducting monetary policy in low-inflation economies. The essays make both theoretical and empirical contributions.


Book Synopsis Monetary Policy in Low-Inflation Economies by : David E. Altig

Download or read book Monetary Policy in Low-Inflation Economies written by David E. Altig and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2009-07-31 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The essays in this volume investigate the challenges of transitioning to lower levels of inflation and conducting monetary policy in low-inflation economies. The essays make both theoretical and empirical contributions.


On the Believable Benefits of Low Inflation

On the Believable Benefits of Low Inflation

Author: Christopher Ragan

Publisher:

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 38

ISBN-13: 9780662272441

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis On the Believable Benefits of Low Inflation by : Christopher Ragan

Download or read book On the Believable Benefits of Low Inflation written by Christopher Ragan and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


The Costs and Benefits of Going from Low Inflation to Price Stability

The Costs and Benefits of Going from Low Inflation to Price Stability

Author: Martin S. Feldstein

Publisher:

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 55

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"This paper evaluates the welfare gain from achieving price stability and compares it to the cost of the transition. In calculating the gain from price stability, the paper emphasizes the distortions caused by the interaction of inflation and capital income taxes. Because inflation exacerbates the tax distortions that would exist even with price stability, the annual deadweight loss of a two percent inflation rate is a surprisingly large one percent of GDP. Since the real gain from shifting to price stability grows in perpetuity at the rate of growth of GDP, its present value is a substantial multiple of this annual gain. Discounting the annual gains at the rate that investors require for risky equity investments (i.e., at the 5.1 percent real net-of-tax rate of return on the Standard and Poors portfolio of equities from 1970 to 1994) implies a present value gain equal to more than 35 percent of the initial level of GDP. Since the estimated cost of shifting from two percent inflation to price stability is about five percent of GDP, the gain substantially outweighs the cost of transition"--NBER website.


Book Synopsis The Costs and Benefits of Going from Low Inflation to Price Stability by : Martin S. Feldstein

Download or read book The Costs and Benefits of Going from Low Inflation to Price Stability written by Martin S. Feldstein and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 55 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This paper evaluates the welfare gain from achieving price stability and compares it to the cost of the transition. In calculating the gain from price stability, the paper emphasizes the distortions caused by the interaction of inflation and capital income taxes. Because inflation exacerbates the tax distortions that would exist even with price stability, the annual deadweight loss of a two percent inflation rate is a surprisingly large one percent of GDP. Since the real gain from shifting to price stability grows in perpetuity at the rate of growth of GDP, its present value is a substantial multiple of this annual gain. Discounting the annual gains at the rate that investors require for risky equity investments (i.e., at the 5.1 percent real net-of-tax rate of return on the Standard and Poors portfolio of equities from 1970 to 1994) implies a present value gain equal to more than 35 percent of the initial level of GDP. Since the estimated cost of shifting from two percent inflation to price stability is about five percent of GDP, the gain substantially outweighs the cost of transition"--NBER website.


Inflation and Welfare

Inflation and Welfare

Author: Hans-Werner Sinn

Publisher:

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Inflation and Welfare by : Hans-Werner Sinn

Download or read book Inflation and Welfare written by Hans-Werner Sinn and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: