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Fear of depression - Asymmetric monetary policy with respect to asset markets

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  • Hoffmann, Andreas

Abstract

The paper suggests that during Greenspan’s incumbency the fear of depression caused the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates rapidly when asset price developments suggested a crisis potential. Whereas, when asset markets were growth-supporting, it did not raise interest rates. This asymmetry contributed to a downward-trend in interest rates which pushed US interest rates down to zero in the current crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Hoffmann, Andreas, 2009. "Fear of depression - Asymmetric monetary policy with respect to asset markets," MPRA Paper 17522, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:17522
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/17522/1/MPRA_paper_17522.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Hoffmann, 2010. "An Overinvestment Cycle In Central And Eastern Europe?," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(4), pages 711-734, November.
    2. Mayer, Thomas & Schnabl, Gunther, 2021. "Covid-19 and the euthanasia of interest rates: A critical assessment of central bank policy in our times," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 1241-1258.
    3. Elsamadisy, Elsayed Mousa & Alkhater, Khalid Rashid & Basher, Syed Abul, 2014. "Pre- versus post-crisis central banking in Qatar," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 330-352.
    4. Andr Tomfort, 2017. "Detecting Asset Price Bubbles: A Multifactor Approach," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(1), pages 46-55.
    5. Thomas Mayer & Gunther Schnabl, 2019. "Reasons for the Demise of Interest: Savings Glut and Secular Stagnation or Central Bank Policy?," CESifo Working Paper Series 7954, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fear of depression; Monetary policy; Taylor rule; Asset prices;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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