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Does the Liquidity Trap Exist?

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  • Stéphane Lhuissier
  • Benoît Mojon
  • Juan Rubio-Ramírez

Abstract

The liquidity trap is synonymous with ineffective monetary policy. The common wisdom is that, as the short-term interest rate nears its effective lower bound, monetary policy cannot do much to stimulate the economy. However, central banks have resorted to alternative instruments, such as QE, credit easing and forward guidance. Using state-of-the-art estimates of the effects of monetary policy, we show that monetary easing stimulates output and inflation, also during the period when short-term interest rates are near their lower bound. These results are consistent across the United States, the euro area and Japan.

Suggested Citation

  • Stéphane Lhuissier & Benoît Mojon & Juan Rubio-Ramírez, 2020. "Does the Liquidity Trap Exist?," Working papers 762, Banque de France.
    • Handle: RePEc:bfr:banfra:762
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    2. Tibor Tatay & Zsanett Orlovits & Zsuzsanna Novák, 2022. "Inhomogeneous Financial Markets in a Low Interest Rate Environment—A Cluster Analysis of Eurozone Economies," Risks, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Sarah Goldman & Shouyi Zhang, 2021. "Monetary Policy within a COVID-19 Environment: The Role of Central Banks and the Main Challenges for the Euro-zone," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 2, pages 197-212, July.
    4. Nikolaos Apostolopoulos & Marios Psychalis & Panagiotis Liargovas, 2022. "Discussing EU Policies and Mechanisms towards the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: A Case Study of Greece," World, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-11, October.
    5. Aymeric Ortmans, 2020. "Evolving Monetary Policy in the Aftermath of the Great Recession," Documents de recherche 20-01, Centre d'Études des Politiques Économiques (EPEE), Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Liquidity Trap; Effective Lower Bound; Monetary Transmission.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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

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