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Tell Me Something I Don’t Already Know: Learning in Low and High-Inflation Settings

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Weber
  • Bernardo Candia
  • Hassan Afrouzi
  • Tiziano Ropele
  • Rodrigo Lluberas
  • Serafin Frache
  • Brent H. Meyer
  • Saten Kumar
  • Yuriy Gorodnichenko
  • Dimitris Georgarakos
  • Olivier Coibion
  • Geoff Kenny
  • Jorge Ponce

Abstract

Using randomized control trials (RCTs) applied over time in different countries, we study whether the economic environment affects how agents learn from new information. We show that as inflation rose in advanced economies, both households and firms became more attentive and informed about publicly available news about inflation, leading them to respond less to exogenously provided information about inflation and monetary policy. We also study the effects of RCTs in countries where inflation has been consistently high (Uruguay) and low (New Zealand) as well as what happens when the same agents are repeatedly provided information in both low- and high-inflation environments (Italy). Our results broadly support models in which inattention is an endogenous outcome that depends on the economic environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Weber & Bernardo Candia & Hassan Afrouzi & Tiziano Ropele & Rodrigo Lluberas & Serafin Frache & Brent H. Meyer & Saten Kumar & Yuriy Gorodnichenko & Dimitris Georgarakos & Olivier Coibion & Ge, 2023. "Tell Me Something I Don’t Already Know: Learning in Low and High-Inflation Settings," NBER Working Papers 31485, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31485
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    Cited by:

    1. Schnorpfeil, Philip & Weber, Michael & Hackethal, Andreas, 2023. "Households' response to the wealth effects of inflation," SAFE Working Paper Series 400, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    2. Oliver Pfauti, 2023. "The Inflation Attention Threshold and Inflation Surges," Papers 2308.09480, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2023.

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    JEL classification:

    • E3 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles
    • E40 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - General
    • E50 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - General

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