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Optimal long-run inflation with occasionally binding financial constraints

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  • Abo-Zaid, Salem

Abstract

This paper studies the optimal long-run inflation rate in a simple New Keynesian model with occasionally binding collateral constraints that intermediate-good firms face on hiring labor. The paper finds that the optimal long-run annual inflation rate is around 1.5% if the economy is hit by a total factor productivity (TFP) shock and nearly 2.5% if the economy is subject to a markup shock. The shadow value of the collateral constraint is akin to an endogenous cost-push shock. Differently from usual cost-push shocks, however, this shock is asymmetric as it takes non-negative values only. Since the mean of this asymmetric endogenous cost-push shock is positive, inflation is also positive on average. In addition, a binding collateral constraint resembles a time-varying tax on labor, which the monetary authority can smooth by setting a positive inflation rate. More generally, the basic result is related to standard Ramsey theory in that optimal policy smoothes distortions over time.

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  • Abo-Zaid, Salem, 2015. "Optimal long-run inflation with occasionally binding financial constraints," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 18-42.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:75:y:2015:i:c:p:18-42
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2015.01.004
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    2. Karmakar, Sudipto, 2016. "Macroprudential regulation and macroeconomic activity," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 166-178.
    3. Chen, Huiying, 2021. "On the welfare implications of nominal GDP targeting," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    4. Garín, Julio, 2015. "Borrowing constraints, collateral fluctuations, and the labor market," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 112-130.
    5. Cecion, Martina & Coenen, Günter & Gerke, Rafael & Le Bihan, Hervé & Motto, Roberto & Aguilar, Pablo & Ajevskis, Viktors & Giesen, Sebastian & Albertazzi, Ugo & Gilbert, Niels & Al-Haschimi, Alexander, 2021. "The ECB’s price stability framework: past experience, and current and future challenges," Occasional Paper Series 269, European Central Bank.
    6. Abo-Zaid, Salem, 2015. "Optimal monetary policy with the cost channel and monopolistically-competitive banks," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 284-299.
    7. Salem Abo-Zaid, 2021. "Taxation, credit frictions and the cyclical behavior of the labor wedge," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1777-1816, April.
    8. Tom D. Holden & Paul Levine & Jonathan M. Swarbrick, 2020. "Credit Crunches from Occasionally Binding Bank Borrowing Constraints," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 52(2-3), pages 549-582, March.
    9. Chen, Huiying, 2020. "Nominal GDP targeting, real economic activity and inflation stabilization in a new Keynesian framework," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 53-63.
    10. Martina Cecioni & Adriana Grasso & Alessandro Notarpietro & Massimiliano Pisani, 2021. "Revisiting monetary policy objectives and strategies: international experience and challenges from the ELB," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 660, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Optimal long-run inflation rate; Financial frictions; Occasionally binding collateral constraints; Endogenous asymmetric cost-push shock;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • 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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