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Moderate Inflation and the Deflation–Depression Link

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  • JESS BENHABIB
  • MARK M. SPIEGEL

Abstract

Recent research has concluded that the historical evidence only provides weak support for the contention that deflation episodes are harmful to economic growth. In this paper, we revisit this relationship by allowing for inflation and growth to have a nonlinear specification dependent on inflation levels. In particular, we allow for the possibility that high inflation is negatively correlated with growth, while a positive relationship exists over the range of negative to moderate inflation. Our results confirm a positive relationship between inflation and growth at moderate inflation levels, and support the contention that the relationship between inflation and growth is nonlinear over the entire sample range.

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  • Jess Benhabib & Mark M. Spiegel, 2009. "Moderate Inflation and the Deflation–Depression Link," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(4), pages 787-798, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jmoncb:v:41:y:2009:i:4:p:787-798
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-4616.2009.00232.x
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    3. WenShwo Fang & Stephen M. Miller & ChunShen Lee, 2009. "Short- and Long-Run Differences in the Treatment Effects of Inflation Targeting on Developed and Developing Countries," Working papers 2009-14, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics, revised Jul 2010.
    4. Wang, Wenhao & Xu, Tao & Liu, Xiaoyi & Sun, Yongkun, 2023. "FDI inflows and income inequality: A Schumpeterian economic growth," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 805-820.
    5. Wei-Bin Zhang, 2020. "Inflation And Growth With The Miu Approach And The Equation Of Exchange," Social Sciences and Education Research Review, Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova, vol. 7(1), pages 45-71, July.
    6. Talknice Saungweme & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2021. "Inflation and Economic Growth in Kenya: An Empirical Examination," Advances in Decision Sciences, Asia University, Taiwan, vol. 25(3), pages 1-25, September.
    7. Thanh Quang Phung & Ehsan Rasoulinezhad & Hang Luong Thi Thu, 2023. "How are FDI and green recovery related in Southeast Asian economies?," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 3735-3755, December.
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    9. Venky Venkateswaran & Randall Wright, 2014. "Pledgability and Liquidity: A New Monetarist Model of Financial and Macroeconomic Activity," NBER Macroeconomics Annual, University of Chicago Press, vol. 28(1), pages 227-270.
    10. Afonso, Oscar & Pinho, Mafalda, 2022. "How to reverse a negative asymmetric labor productivity shock in the European Union? A directed technical change analysis with fiscal and monetary policies," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 47-67.
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    13. Stephen M. Miller & WenShwo Fang & Ozkan Eren, 2012. "Inflation Targeting: Does It Improve Economic Performance?," Working Papers 1207, University of Nevada, Las Vegas , Department of Economics.
    14. Sorin-Constantin Deaconu, 2012. "“The Net Monetary Statement” and “The Net Non-Monetary Statement” – Assessment Indicators for The Financial Position of The Entity," Annals of the University of Petrosani, Economics, University of Petrosani, Romania, vol. 12(3), pages 49-56.
    15. Óscar Afonso, 2022. "Growth and wage effects of the monetary policy," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 4058-4084, October.
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    20. Afonso, Oscar, 2023. "Fiscal and monetary effects on environmental quality, growth, and welfare," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(1), pages 202-219.

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