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Is There a Zero Lower Bound? The Effects of Negative Policy Rates on Banks and Firms

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  • Giannetti, Mariassunta
  • Altavilla, Carlo
  • Burlon, Lorenzo
  • Holton, Sarah

Abstract

Exploiting confidential data from the euro area, we show that sound banks pass on negative rates to their corporate depositors without experiencing a contraction in funding and that the degree of pass-through becomes stronger as policy rates move deeper into negative territory. The negative interest rate policy provides stimulus to the economy through firms’ asset rebalancing. Firms with high cash-holdings linked to banks charging negative rates increase their investment and decrease their cash-holdings to avoid the costs associated with negative rates. Overall, our results challenge the common view that conventional monetary policy becomes ineffective at the zero lower bound.

Suggested Citation

  • Giannetti, Mariassunta & Altavilla, Carlo & Burlon, Lorenzo & Holton, Sarah, 2019. "Is There a Zero Lower Bound? The Effects of Negative Policy Rates on Banks and Firms," CEPR Discussion Papers 14050, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:14050
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Monetary policy; Negative rates; Lending channel; Corporate channel;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • D2 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations

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