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Inflation Aversion and the Optimal Inflation Tax

Author

Listed:
  • Gaowang Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, Wuhan University)

  • Heng-fu Zou

    (CEMA, Central University of Finance and Economics
    China School of Advanced Study (SAS), Shenzhen University
    IAS, Wuhan University
    GSM, Peking University)

Abstract

The optimal inflation tax is reexamined in the framework of dynamic second best economy populated by individuals with inflation aversion. A simple formula for the optimal inflation rate is derived. Different from the literature, it is shown that if the marginal excess burden of other distorting taxes approaches zero, Friedman's rule for optimum quantity of money is not optimal, and the optimal inflation tax is negative; if the marginal excess burden of other taxes is nonzero, the optimal inflation rate is indeterminate and relies on the tradeoffs between the impatience effect of inflation and the effects of other economic forces in the monetary economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaowang Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2011. "Inflation Aversion and the Optimal Inflation Tax," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 12(1), pages 13-30, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:cuf:journl:y:2011:v:12:i:1:p:13-30
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heng-fu Zou & Liutang Gong & Xinsheng Zeng, 2011. "Inflation Aversion," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, May.
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    5. Chari, V.V. & Kehoe, Patrick J., 1999. "Optimal fiscal and monetary policy," Handbook of Macroeconomics, in: J. B. Taylor & M. Woodford (ed.), Handbook of Macroeconomics, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 26, pages 1671-1745, Elsevier.
    6. Siegel, Jeremy J., 1978. "Notes on optimal taxation and the optimal rate of inflation," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 297-305, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gaowang Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2011. "Inflation Aversion and the Optimal Inflation Tax," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 12(1), pages 13-30, May.
    2. Rangan Gupta & Philton Makena, 2019. "Inflation Aversion and the Growth-Inflation Relationship," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 20(2), pages 803-815, November.
    3. Wang, Gaowang, 2011. "Time Preference and Interest Rate in a dynamic general Equilibrium Model," MPRA Paper 34063, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inflation aversion; Optimal inflation tax; Second best taxation; The friedman rule;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation

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