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Monetary Policy in Currency Unions with Unequal Countries

Author

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  • Boehnert, Lukas
  • de Ferra, Sergio
  • Mitman, Kurt
  • Romei, Federica

Abstract

We investigate how the composition of expenditure shapes the transmission of monetary policy in a currency union. European Monetary Union data reveal three facts: (1) higher inequality countries have larger service expenditure shares; (2) monetary policy has a weaker output impact in these high-service-share, high-inequality countries; and (3) monetary policy induces systematic trade flows between high- and low-service-share countries. We develop a New Keynesian model with non-homothetic preferences and heterogeneous sectoral income that rationalizes these facts. Procyclical inequality, driven by wealthier households’ greater income exposure to services, buffers poorer households’ consumption to contractionary shocks, dampening overall policy transmission. Our findings suggest that accounting for cross-country differences in consumption and income distributions is essential for understanding common monetary policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Boehnert, Lukas & de Ferra, Sergio & Mitman, Kurt & Romei, Federica, 2025. "Monetary Policy in Currency Unions with Unequal Countries," CEPR Discussion Papers 19872, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:19872
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    File URL: https://cepr.org/publications/DP19872
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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