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The Financial Stability Dark Side of Monetary Policy

Author

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  • Piergiorgio Alessandri

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Antonio M. Conti

    (Bank of Italy
    ECARES, Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • Fabrizio Venditti

    (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

Market risk premia play an important role in the transmission of monetary policy. If the transmission were to work asymmetrically for positive and negative shocks, monetary authorities would face a problematic trade-off: a temporary stimulus could boost the economy in the short run, but at the same time sow the seeds of a painful medium-run market reversal (the "financial stability dark side" of monetary policy of Stein, 2014). We study the relation between interest rates, credit spreads and output in the U.S. using monthly data and a range of nonlinear dynamic models. We find clear signs of a reduced-form asymmetry, but no evidence in support of the causal mechanism that underpins the 'dark side' argument: spreads rise noticeably ahead of economic slowdowns but they do not appear to cause them directly, particularly if they move in response to monetary shocks. This suggests that the asymmetry is best interpreted as a purely predictive relation, with markets being particularly sensitive to bad economic news; and that it creates no complications for monetary policy or for the exit strategy from monetary accommodation.

Suggested Citation

  • Piergiorgio Alessandri & Antonio M. Conti & Fabrizio Venditti, 2016. "The Financial Stability Dark Side of Monetary Policy," BCAM Working Papers 1601, Birkbeck Centre for Applied Macroeconomics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bbk:bbkcam:1601
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    2. Francesco Corsello & Valerio Nispi Landi, 2020. "Labor Market and Financial Shocks: A Time‐Varying Analysis," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 52(4), pages 777-801, June.
    3. policy, Work stream on macroprudential & Policy, Monetary & Stability, Financial & Albertazzi, Ugo & Martin, Alberto & Assouan, Emmanuelle & Tristani, Oreste & Galati, Gabriele & Vlassopoulos, Thomas , 2023. "The role of financial stability considerations in monetary policy and the interaction with macroprudential policy in the euro area," Occasional Paper Series 272, European Central Bank.
    4. Colombo, Valentina & Paccagnini, Alessia, 2020. "Does the credit supply shock have asymmetric effects on macroeconomic variables?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Sara Cecchetti, 2017. "A quantitative analysis of risk premia in the corporate bond market," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1141, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    6. Angela Abbate & Massimiliano Marcellino, 2017. "Macroeconomic activity and risk indicators: an unstable relationship," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 1756, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.

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    JEL classification:

    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems

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