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Mind the Gap: City-Level Inflation Synchronization

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  • Mr. Serhan Cevik

Abstract

The post-pandemic rise in consumer prices across the world has renewed interest in inflation dynamics after decades of global disinflation. This paper provides a spatial investigation of inflation synchronicity at the city level in Lithuania using disaggregated monthly data during the period 2000–2021. The empirical analysis provides strong evidence that (i) the co-movement of city-level inflation rates—estimated using the instantaneous quasi-correlation approach—is significantly weaker than the extent of synchronization suggested by the simple correlation analysis; (ii) there is substantial heterogeneity in the instantaneous quasi-correlation of inflation subcomponents between city pairs; and (iii) there are significant changes in the degree of city-level synchronization over time, reflecting important economic developments in history such as the global financial crisis, the adoption of euro, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Serhan Cevik, 2022. "Mind the Gap: City-Level Inflation Synchronization," IMF Working Papers 2022/166, International Monetary Fund.
  • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2022/166
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inflation synchronization; subnational; transition economies; Lithuania; inflation subcomponent; inflation synchronicity; headline inflation inflation rate; correlation analysis; inflation dynamics; Inflation; Consumer price indexes; Consumer prices; Global financial crisis of 2008-2009; Housing; Global;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation

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