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Monetary Policy and Racial Inequality

Author

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  • Alina K. Bartscher

    (Department of Economics, University of Bonn)

  • Moritz Kuhn

    (Department of Economics, University of Bonn; CEPR and IZA)

  • Moritz Schularick

    (Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and Department of Economics, University of Bonn; and CEPR)

  • Paul Wachtel

    (Department of Economics, New York University Stern School of Business)

Abstract

This paper aims at an improved understanding of the relationship between monetary policy and racial inequality. We investigate the distributional effects of monetary policy in a unified framework, linking monetary policy shocks both to earnings and wealth differentials between black and white households. Specifically, we show that, although a more accommodative monetary policy increases employment of black households more than white households, the overall effects are small. At the same time, an accommodative monetary policy shock exacerbates the wealth difference between black and white households, because black households own less financial assets that appreciate in value. Over multi-year time horizons, the employment effects are substantially smaller than the countervailing portfolio effects. We conclude that there is little reason to think that accommodative monetary policy plays a significant role in reducing racial inequities in the way often discussed. On the contrary, it may well accentuate inequalities for extended periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Alina K. Bartscher & Moritz Kuhn & Moritz Schularick & Paul Wachtel, 2021. "Monetary Policy and Racial Inequality," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 061, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:061
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    Cited by:

    1. Petreski, Marjan & Tanevski, Stefan & Jacobo, Alejandro D., 2025. "Monetary policy and labor market dynamics: A gender perspective from developing economies," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 47(5), pages 999-1020.
    2. Christian Bayer & Luis Calderon & Moritz Kuhn, 2025. "Distributional Dynamics," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 351, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    3. Dubravko Mihaljek, 2021. "Interactions between fiscal and monetary policies: a brief history of a long relationship," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 45(4), pages 419-432.
    4. Anastasia Burya & Rui Mano & Mr. Yannick Timmer & Miss Anke Weber, 2022. "Monetary Policy Under Labor Market Power," IMF Working Papers 2022/128, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Guanyi Yang & Srinivasan Murali, 2024. "Macroeconomics of Racial Disparities: Discrimination, Labor Market, and Wealth," Papers 2412.00615, arXiv.org, revised May 2025.
    6. Bennani, Hamza, 2023. "Effect of monetary policy shocks on the racial unemployment rates in the US," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    7. Moritz Kuhn & José-Víctor Ríos-Rull, 2025. "Income and Wealth Inequality in the United States: An Update Including the 2022 Wave," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2025_708, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    8. Edmond Berisha & Ram Sewak Dubey & Eric Olson, 2022. "Monetary policy and the racial wage gap," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(6), pages 3045-3059, December.
    9. Kuhn, Florian & Chanci, Luis, 2024. "Racial disparities in labor outcomes: The effects of hiring discrimination over the business cycle," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 801-817.
    10. Jermaine Toney, 2022. "Is there wealth stability across generations in the U.S.? Evidence from panel study, 1984–2017," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(4), pages 551-567, October.
    11. Bartscher, Alina K. & Kuhn, Moritz & Schularick, Moritz & Steins, Ulrike I., 2025. "The distribution of household debt in the United States, 1950-2022," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 324154, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    12. Katya Kartashova & Xiaoqing Zhou, 2021. "Wealth Inequality and Return Heterogeneity During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Working Papers 2114, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    13. Cobus Vermeulen, 2023. "The inherent uncertainties in output gap estimation a South African perspective," Working Papers 11051, South African Reserve Bank.
    14. Albert, Juan-Francisco & Gómez-Fernández, Nerea, 2024. "The impact of monetary policy shocks on net worth and consumption across races in the United States," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(1).
    15. Nittai Bergman & Benjamin Born & David A. Matsa & Michael Weber, 2022. "Inclusive Monetary Policy: How Tight Labor Markets Facilitate Broad-Based Employment Growth," NBER Working Papers 29651, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Marjan Petreski & Stefan Tanevski & Alejandro D. Jacobo, 2024. "Monetary Policy and the Gendered Labor Market Dynamics: Evidence from Developing Economies," Papers 2402.05729, arXiv.org.
    17. Bartscher, Alina K. & Kuhn, Moritz & Schularick, Moritz & Steins, Ulrike I., 2025. "The distribution of household debt in the United States, 1950-2022," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 323602, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    18. Alina K. Bartscher & Moritz Kuhn & Moritz Schularick & Paul Wachtel, 2022. "Monetary Policy and Racial Inequality," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 53(1 (Spring), pages 1-63.
    19. Bartscher, Alina K. & Kuhn, Moritz & Schularick, Moritz & Steins, Ulrike I., 2025. "The distribution of household debt in the United States, 1950-2022," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 318398, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    20. Fatima Mboup, 2023. "Economic Activity by Race," Working Papers 23-16, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
    21. Gerardi, Kristopher & Willen, Paul S. & Zhang, David Hao, 2023. "Mortgage prepayment, race, and monetary policy," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(3), pages 498-524.
    22. Francesco D’Acunto & Andreas Fuster & Michael Weber, 2021. "Diverse Policy Committees Can Reach Underrepresented Groups," NBER Working Papers 29275, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    JEL classification:

    • E40 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - General
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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