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Tariffs, Trade Wars, and the Natural Rate of Interest

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  • Neil Mehrotra
  • Michael E. Waugh

Abstract

What are the effects of tariff changes and trade conflicts on the natural rate of interest? This article investigates this question, using a multicountry, heterogeneous-agent trade model in which the natural rate of interest is determined by firms’ demand for capital and households’ supply of assets through their savings behavior. We analyze how the equilibrium interest rate evolves during the transition to higher unilateral tariffs and a global trade war. In the short run, tariffs reduce capital demand, and so the natural rate of interest must fall for households’ asset supply to line up with capital demand. In the long run, both asset supply and capital demand fall by similar amounts, which leads to little change in the long-run natural rate of interest.

Suggested Citation

  • Neil Mehrotra & Michael E. Waugh, 2025. "Tariffs, Trade Wars, and the Natural Rate of Interest," NBER Working Papers 34206, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34206
    Note: EFG IFM ITI ME
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E0 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General
    • E40 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - General
    • F0 - International Economics - - General
    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F40 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - General

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