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Effects of the ECB's Unconventional Monetary Policy on Real and Financial Wealth

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  • De Luigi, Clara
  • Schuberth, Helene
  • Feldkircher, Martin
  • Poyntner, Philipp

Abstract

We assess the impact of the ECB's unconventional monetary policy (UMP) on the wealth distribution of households in ten euro area countries. For this purpose, we estimate the effects of an ECB balance sheet expansion on financial asset and housing prices by means of vector autoregressions. We then use the estimates to carry out micro simulations based on data from the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS). We find that the overall effect of UMP on the net wealth distribution of households differs depending on which wealth inequality indicators we use. There is an inequality-increasing effect for the majority of the countries under review when we use wealth inequality indicators that are sensitive to changes at the tails of the wealth distribution. The effect is more equalizing when we base our assessment on the Gini coefficient. It is also important to note that one-third of the households in our sample does not hold financial or housing wealth and is thus not directly affected by UMP measures via the asset price channel.

Suggested Citation

  • De Luigi, Clara & Schuberth, Helene & Feldkircher, Martin & Poyntner, Philipp, 2019. "Effects of the ECB's Unconventional Monetary Policy on Real and Financial Wealth," Department of Economics Working Paper Series 286, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:wiw:wus005:7040
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ewa Dziwok & Johannes Jäger, 2021. "A Classification of Different Approaches to Green Finance and Green Monetary Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Bernd Hayo, 2020. "Does the ECB's Monetary Policy Affect People’s Personal Financial Situation and Economic Inequality? The View of the German Population," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202023, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    4. Hayo, Bernd, 2021. "Does Quantitative Easing Affect People’s Personal Financial Situation and Economic Inequality? The View of the German Population," VfS Annual Conference 2021 (Virtual Conference): Climate Economics 242331, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Monetary Policy; Inequality; Wealth; Quantitative Easing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies

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