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A Central Bank Theory of Price Level Determination

Author

Listed:
  • Pierpaolo Benigno

Abstract

This paper develops a theory in which the central bank can control the price level without fiscal backing. It is shown that the remittances policy and the balance sheet of the central bank are important elements to specify. A central bank that is appropriately capitalized can succeed in controlling prices by setting the interest rate on reserves, holding short-term assets, and rebating its income to the treasury from which it has to maintain financial independence.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierpaolo Benigno, 2020. "A Central Bank Theory of Price Level Determination," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 258-283, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmac:v:12:y:2020:i:3:p:258-83
    DOI: 10.1257/mac.20190008
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    Cited by:

    1. Gaballo, Gaetano & Mengus, Eric, 2023. "Myopic fiscal objectives and long-Run monetary efficiency," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 1-17.
    2. Pierpaolo Benigno, 2023. "Monetary Policy in a World of Cryptocurrencies," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 21(4), pages 1363-1396.
    3. Atsushi Tanaka, 2021. "Central Bank Capital and Credibility: A Literature Survey," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 63(2), pages 249-262, June.
    4. Benigno, Pierpaolo & Nisticò, Salvatore, 2025. "The economics of helicopter money," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    5. Barthélemy, Jean & Mengus, Eric & Plantin, Guillaume, 2024. "The central bank, the treasury, or the market: Which one determines the price level?," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    6. Matteo Bonetti & Dirk Broeders & Damiaan Chen & Daniel Dimitrov, 2024. "Central Bank Capital and Shareholder Relationship," Working Papers 809, DNB.
    7. Richard Harrison, 2017. "Optimal quantitative easing," Bank of England working papers 678, Bank of England.
    8. Maurice Obstfeld & Kenneth Rogoff, 2021. "Revisiting speculative hyperinflations in monetary models," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 40, pages 1-11, April.
    9. Plantin, Guillaume & Barthélemy, Jean & Mengus, Eric, 2019. "Public Liquidity Demand and Central Bank Independence," CEPR Discussion Papers 14160, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Hannes Malmberg & Erik Öberg, 2021. "Price‐Level Determination When Tax Payments Are Required in Money," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 123(2), pages 621-644, April.
    11. Isabel Horta Correia, 2018. "From unconventional monetary to unconventional fiscal policies," Economic Bulletin and Financial Stability Report Articles and Banco de Portugal Economic Studies, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    12. repec:ptu:bdpart:e201810 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Salvatore Nisticò & Marialaura Seccareccia, 2022. "Unconventional Policy and Idiosyncratic Risk," Working Papers 7/22, Sapienza University of Rome, DISS.
    14. Niwa, Hidekazu, 2024. "A fiscal theory of central bank’s solvency: Perils of the quantitative and qualitative monetary easing," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    15. Brandao-Marques, Luis & Casiraghi, Marco & Gelos, Gaston & Harrison, Olamide & Kamber, Gunes, 2024. "Is high debt Constraining monetary policy? evidence from inflation expectations," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    16. Igor Goncharov & Vasso Ioannidou & Martin C. Schmalz, 2020. "(Why) do central banks care about their profits?," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 018, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    17. Manuel Amador & Javier Bianchi, 2023. "Helicopter Drops and Liquidity Traps," NBER Working Papers 31046, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies

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