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The Narrow Channel of Quantitative Easing: Evidence from YCC Down Under

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  • David Lucca
  • Jonathan H. Wright

Abstract

We study the recent Australian experience with yield curve control (YCC) of government bonds as perhaps the best evidence of how this policy might work in other developed economies. We interpret the evidence with a simple model in which YCC affects prices of both government and other bonds via “broad” transmission channels, but only government bond prices through “narrow” liquidity channels. YCC seemingly worked well in 2020 while the market expected short rates to stay at zero for long. But as the global recovery and inflation gained momentum in 2021, liftoff expectations moved up, the Reserve Bank of Australia purchased most of the outstanding amount of the targeted government bond, and its yield dislocated from other financial market instruments. The model and empirical evidence point to narrow transmission channels playing more prominent roles than broad channels considered in prior studies of quantitative easing (QE), such as portfolio balance effects and signaling about short term rates. We argue that asset-specific narrow channels may be primary transmission mechanisms of quantity-based QE policies as well.

Suggested Citation

  • David Lucca & Jonathan H. Wright, 2022. "The Narrow Channel of Quantitative Easing: Evidence from YCC Down Under," NBER Working Papers 29971, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29971
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    Cited by:

    1. Shiratsuka, Shigenori, 2025. "What did the Bank of Japan do under the yield curve control policy?," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    2. Stephen Anthony & Hamid Yahyaei, 2022. "Bringing Credibility Back to Macroeconomic Policy Frameworks," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 41(3), pages 276-295, September.
    3. Koji Takahashi & Sumiko Takaoka, 2025. "Corporate Bond Purchase Program and Corporate Debt Issuance: Evidence from Japanese Corporate Bond Marketing News," IMES Discussion Paper Series 25-E-11, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan.
    4. Gauti B. Eggertsson & Sergei K. Egiev, 2025. "Liquidity Traps: A Unified Theory of the Great Depression and the Great Recession," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 63(4), pages 1424-1551, December.
    5. Junko Koeda & Yoichi Ueno, 2022. "A Preferred Habitat View of Yield Curve Control," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series 22-E-7, Bank of Japan.
    6. Richard Finlay & Dmitry Titkov & Michelle Xiang, 2023. "The Yield and Market Function Effects of the Reserve Bank of Australia's Bond Purchases," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 99(326), pages 359-384, September.
    7. Jonathan Hambur & Qazi Haque, 2023. "Can we use high-frequency yield data to better understand the effects of monetary policy and its communication? Yes and no!," School of Economics and Public Policy Working Papers 2023-03 Classification-E4, University of Adelaide, School of Economics and Public Policy.
    8. Patrick Aldridge & David Cimon & Rishi Vala, 2023. "Central Bank Crisis Interventions: A Review of the Recent Literature on Potential Costs," Discussion Papers 2023-30, Bank of Canada.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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