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Is Money Essential? An Experimental Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Janet Hua Jiang
  • Peter Norman
  • Daniela Puzzello
  • Bruno Sultanum
  • Randall Wright

Abstract

Monetary exchange is called essential when better outcomes become incentive compatible when money is introduced. We study essentiality theoretically and experimentally using finite-horizon monetary models that are naturally suited to the lab. Following mechanism design, we also study the effects of strategy recommendations both when they are incentive compatible and when they are not. Results show that output and welfare are significantly enhanced by fiat currency if monetary equilibrium exists but not otherwise. Also, recommendations help if incentive compatible but not otherwise. Sometimes money gets used when it should not, and we investigate why, using surveys and measures of social preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Janet Hua Jiang & Peter Norman & Daniela Puzzello & Bruno Sultanum & Randall Wright, 2024. "Is Money Essential? An Experimental Approach," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 132(9), pages 2972-2998.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/730199
    DOI: 10.1086/730199
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    Cited by:

    1. Babutsidze, Zakaria & Bonetto, Federico & Hanaki, Nobuyuki & Iacopetta, Maurizio, 2025. "Money, inflation tax, and trading behavior: Theory and laboratory experiments," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    2. Cardozo, Marcos & Rosokha, Yaroslav & Zhang, Cathy, 2024. "On the emergence of international currencies: An experimental approach," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    3. John Duffy & Daniela Puzzello, 2022. "The Friedman Rule: Experimental Evidence," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 63(2), pages 671-698, May.
    4. Marcos Cardozo & Yaroslav Rosokha & Cathy Zhang, 2024. "On the Emergence of International Currencies: An Experimental Approach," Purdue University Economics Working Papers 1351, Purdue University, Department of Economics.
    5. Luis Araujo & Leo Ferraris & Marco Mantovani & Daniela Puzzello, 2025. "Experimenting with Digital Currency," Working Papers 557, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics.

    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
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior

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