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Rationally Inattentive savers and Monetary Policy Changes: A Laboratory Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea Civelli

    (University of Arkansas, Walton College of Business, Department of Economics)

  • Cary Deck

    (University of Alabama
    Economic Science Institute, Chapman University)

  • Antonella Tutino

    (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas)

Abstract

We study the response of consumption and saving decisions of rationally inattentive individuals to changes in monetary policy in the laboratory. First, we theoretically characterize the choices of a rationally inattentive agent processing information about the interest rate. Then, we design an experiment with induced inattention to test for the predictions of the model, contrasting them to the full information case. Consistent with the predictions, experimental subjects (a) increase attention when utility gains exceed cognitive costs of tracking the policy rate and decrease savings when their perceived economic outlook deteriorates; (b) respond to Delphic, but not Odyssean, forms of forward guidance. These ?ndings agree with recent empirical evidence on monetary policy e?ects on consumption behavior in U.S. and internationally.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Civelli & Cary Deck & Antonella Tutino, 2020. "Rationally Inattentive savers and Monetary Policy Changes: A Laboratory Experiment," Working Papers 20-02, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:20-02
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    File URL: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/295/
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Timmons, Shane & Robertson, Deirdre & Lunn, Pete, 2022. "Combining nudges and boosts to increase precautionary saving: A large-scale field experiment," Papers WP722, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

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    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • E20 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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