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Inflation and Welfare in Models with Trading Frictions

Author

Listed:
  • Guillaume Rocheteau

    (Department of Research,Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland)

  • Randall Wright

    (Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania)

Abstract

We study the effects of inflation in models with various trading frictions. The framework is related to recent search-based monetary theory, in that trade takes place periodically in centralized and decentralized markets, but we consider three alternative mechanisms for price formation: bargaining, price taking, and posting. Both the value of money per transaction and market composition are endogenous, allowing us to characterize intensive and extensive margin effects. In the calibrated model, under posting the cost of inflation is similar to previous estimates, around 1% of consumption. Under bargaining, it is considerably bigger, between 3% and 5%. Under price taking, the cost of inflation depends on parameters, but tends to be between the bargaining and posting models. In some cases, moderate inflation may increase output or welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Guillaume Rocheteau & Randall Wright, 2003. "Inflation and Welfare in Models with Trading Frictions," PIER Working Paper Archive 03-032, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania.
    • Handle: RePEc:pen:papers:03-032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Miquel Faig, 2004. "Divisible Money in an Economy with Villages," Levine's Bibliography 122247000000000159, UCLA Department of Economics.
    2. Ben Craig & Guillaume Rocheteau, 2008. "Inflation and Welfare: A Search Approach," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 40(1), pages 89-119, February.
    3. Rocheteau, Guillaume, 2012. "The cost of inflation: A mechanism design approach," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 147(3), pages 1261-1279.
    4. Sergio Parra Cely, 2009. "Costos de inflación en un modelo de búsqueda monetaria con formación endógena de precios: el caso colombiano," Revista ESPE - Ensayos sobre Política Económica, Banco de la Republica de Colombia, vol. 27(59), pages 46-82, June.
    5. Ennis, Huberto M., 2008. "Search, money, and inflation under private information," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 138(1), pages 101-131, January.
    6. Faig Miquel & Jerez Belén, 2006. "Inflation, Prices, and Information in Competitive Search," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 6(1), pages 1-34, September.
    7. Young Sik Kim & Manjong Lee, 2012. "Recognizability and Liquidity of Assets," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 28, pages 241-259.
    8. Boragan Aruoba, S. & Rocheteau, Guillaume & Waller, Christopher, 2007. "Bargaining and the value of money," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(8), pages 2636-2655, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Money; Search; Frictions; Inflation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation

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