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Household Heterogeneity across Countries and Optimal Monetary Policy in a Monetary Union

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin Schwanebeck

    (FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany)

  • Luzie Thiel

    (University of Kassel, Germany)

Abstract

The financial situation of households differs substantially across countries, but the implications of this heterogeneity are still vastly understudied. We examine the implications of this asymmetry for optimal monetary policy in a currency union. We build a two-country monetary union model with heterogeneous households leading to inequality due to imperfect insurance. Money is introduced through central bank digital currency (CBDC) as a liquid asset to self-insure against idiosyncratic risk. CBDC is a new instrument which allows the central bank to target heterogeneity within a monetary union. We derive a welfare function with two additional objectives, consumption inequality within and across countries. The more heterogeneous households are, the less important inflation stabilization becomes in favor of stabilizing consumption inequality through providing money. Our research provides important policy implications as we show that it is beneficial for a monetary union to have a country-specific instrument to compensate for country differentials.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Schwanebeck & Luzie Thiel, 2025. "Household Heterogeneity across Countries and Optimal Monetary Policy in a Monetary Union," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202512, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    • Handle: RePEc:mar:magkse:202512
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    File URL: https://www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb02/research-groups/economics/macroeconomics/research/magks-joint-discussion-papers-in-economics/papers/2025-papers/12-2025.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ma Eunseong & Park Kwangyong, 2025. "Gini in the Taylor Rule: Should the Fed Care About Inequality?," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 25(1), pages 241-285.
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    1. Thiel, Luzie & Schwanebeck, Benjamin, 2024. "Does Household Heterogeneity across Countries Matter for Optimal Monetary Policy within a Monetary Union?," VfS Annual Conference 2024 (Berlin): Upcoming Labor Market Challenges 302405, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

    More about this item

    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
    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • F45 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Macroeconomic Issues of Monetary Unions

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