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Household Behavior Below the Zero Lower Bound

Author

Listed:
  • Asger Lau Andersen
  • Niels Johannesen
  • Jens Brøndum Petersen
  • Sonja Settele
  • Johannes Wohlfart

Abstract

How do households respond when deposit rates drop below zero? Using administrative micro data and exploiting cross-bank variation in interest rate policies, we study a major episode of negative deposit rates in Denmark affecting two thirds of household deposits. We find that households strongly reduced deposit balances when exposed to negative deposit rates, allocating funds to stock portfolios and consumption. In a large-scale survey, we document important roles for loss aversion, perceived unfairness, intertemporal substitution and return considerations in driving these responses. Our findings suggest that monetary policy can have strong consumption effects in negative territory.

Suggested Citation

  • Asger Lau Andersen & Niels Johannesen & Jens Brøndum Petersen & Sonja Settele & Johannes Wohlfart, 2026. "Household Behavior Below the Zero Lower Bound," CESifo Working Paper Series 12732, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12732
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    File URL: https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/cesifo1_wp12732.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E71 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on the Macro Economy

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