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Treasury Debt and Inflation Tax

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Abstract

We calculate the implicit inflation tax borne by households due to their holdings of U.S. Treasury debt. Nominal assets lose value due to unexpected inflation. We calculate unexpected changes in current and future inflation and document households’ holdings of Treasury debt across the wealth distribution, accounting for direct and indirect holdings through financial intermediaries. Combining these two pieces of information, we calculate the implied inflation tax across household wealth groups over the past four decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu-Ting Chiang & Ezra Karger & Jesse LaBelle, 2024. "Treasury Debt and Inflation Tax," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 106(9), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedlrv:98945
    DOI: 10.20955/r.2024.09
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthias Doepke & Martin Schneider, 2006. "Inflation and the Redistribution of Nominal Wealth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 114(6), pages 1069-1097, December.
    2. Yu-Ting Chiang & Ezra Karger, 2024. "Nominal Maturity Mismatch and the Liquidity Cost of Inflation," Working Papers 2024-031, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, revised 09 Dec 2025.
    3. Felipe N. Del Canto & John R. Grigsby & Eric Qian & Conor Walsh, 2023. "Are Inflationary Shocks Regressive? A Feasible Set Approach," NBER Working Papers 31124, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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