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Cash: A Blessing or a Curse?

Author

Listed:
  • Fernando Alvarez

    (University of Chicago)

  • David Argente

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Rafael Jimenez

    (University of Chicago)

  • Francesco Lippi

    (LUISS University and EIEF)

Abstract

We use two quasi-natural experiments that encouraged the use of debit cards and facilitated the use of ATMs in Mexico to estimate the elasticity of crime and informality to the availability of cash as means of payment. We then construct a simple model to quantify the private costs of restricting cash-usage in the economy. Our model captures the degree of substitution between cash and other payment methods at both the intensive and the extensive margins. We estimate the welfare effects of restricting cash by means of three key inputs: i) the elasticity of substitution between cash and credit, ii) the share of expenditures in cash by type of good obtained from detailed micro data, and iii) the elasticity of crimes to the availability of cash as means of payment. The social benefits of restricting cash usage are driven by the reduction of some criminal activities. The costs arise from the distortions that the anti-cash regulation imposes on the individual choices regarding the means of payment. We find that the private costs of heavily taxing the use cash outweigh the social benefits that we identify.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernando Alvarez & David Argente & Rafael Jimenez & Francesco Lippi, 2021. "Cash: A Blessing or a Curse?," EIEF Working Papers Series 2110, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF), revised May 2021.
    • Handle: RePEc:eie:wpaper:2110
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fernando Alvarez & David Argente, 2022. "On the Effects of the Availability of Means of Payments: The Case of Uber," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 137(3), pages 1737-1789.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lucas A. Mariani & Jose Renato Haas Ornelas & Bernardo Ricca, 2023. "Banks’ Physical Footprint and Financial Technology Adoption," Working Papers Series 576, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    2. Agur, Itai & Ari, Anil & Dell’Ariccia, Giovanni, 2022. "Designing central bank digital currencies," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 62-79.
    3. Giammatteo, Michele & Iezzi, Stefano & Zizza, Roberta, 2022. "Pecunia olet. Cash usage and the underground economy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 107-127.
    4. Brown, Martin & Hentschel, Nicole & Mettler, Hannes & Stix, Helmut, 2022. "The convenience of electronic payments and consumer cash demand," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 86-102.
    5. Rainone, Edoardo, 2023. "Tax evasion policies and the demand for cash," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Mariani, Lucas A. & Haas Ornelas, José Renato & Ricca, Bernardo, 2023. "Banks’ Physical Footprint and Financial Technology Adoption," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12812, Inter-American Development Bank.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E4 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates
    • E5 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit

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