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The welfare cost of inflation with banking time

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  • Gillman Max

    (University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA)

Abstract

The paper presents the welfare cost of inflation in a banking time economy that models exchange credit through a bank production approach. The estimate of welfare cost uses fundamental parameters of utility and production technologies. It is compared to a cash-only economy, and a [Lucas, Robert Jr. E. 2000. “Inflation and Welfare.” Econometrica 68 (2): 247–274.] shopping economy without leisure, as special cases. The paper estimates the welfare cost of a 10% inflation rate instead of zero, for comparison to other estimates, as well as the cost of a 2% inflation rate instead of a zero inflation rate. A zero rate is statutorily specified as the US inflation rate target in the 1978 Employment Act amendments. The paper provides a conservative welfare cost estimate of 2% inflation instead of zero at $33 billion a year. Estimates of the percent of government expenditure that can be financed through a 2% vs. zero inflation rate are also provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Gillman Max, 2020. "The welfare cost of inflation with banking time," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 20(1), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejmac:v:20:y:2020:i:1:p:20:n:18
    DOI: 10.1515/bejm-2018-0059
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    1. Benk, Szilárd & Gillman, Max & Kejak, Michal, 2010. "A banking explanation of the US velocity of money: 1919-2004," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 765-779, April.
    2. Szilárd Benk & Max Gillman & Michal Kejak, 2005. "A Comparison Of Exchange Economies Within A Monetary Business Cycle," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 73(4), pages 542-562, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Max Gillman, 2021. "Income tax evasion: tax elasticity, welfare, and revenue," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 28(3), pages 533-566, June.
    2. John H. Cochrane, 2020. "Strategic Review and Beyond: Rethinking Monetary Policy and Independence," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 102(2), pages 99-119, May.
    3. Max Gillman, 2021. "Macroeconomic Trends among Visegrád Countries, EU Balkans, and the U.S., 1991-2021," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2021(2), pages 1-20.
    4. Marzioni, Stefano & Traficante, Guido, 2023. "Learning with uncertain inflation target," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 624-634.
    5. Max Gillman, 2020. "Technical Appendix: “Income Tax Evasion: Tax Elasticity, Welfare, and Revenueâ€," Working Papers 1018, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Department of Economics.
    6. Peña, Guillermo, 2021. "Leisure as a complement of banking: Taxing financial services for reducing leisure time?," MPRA Paper 109942, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    banking; Euler equation; Great Recession; inflation; interest rates; marginal cost; money demand; price-theoretic; productivity shocks; velocity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E13 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Neoclassical
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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