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The Macroeconomic Effects of Government Asset Purchases: Evidence from Postwar US Housing Credit Policy

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  • Ravn, Morten
  • Mertens, Karel
  • Fieldhouse, Andrew

Abstract

We document the portfolio activity of federal housing agencies and provide evidence on its impact on mortgage markets and the economy. Through a narrative analysis, we identify historical policy changes leading to expansions or contractions in agency mortgage holdings. Based on those regulatory events that we classify as unrelated to short-run cyclical or credit market shocks, we find that an increase in mortgage purchases by the agencies boosts mortgage lending and lowers mortgage rates. Agency purchases influence prices in other asset markets and stimulate residential investment. Using information in GSE stock prices to construct an alternative instrument for agency purchasing activity yields very similar results as our benchmark narrative identification approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Ravn, Morten & Mertens, Karel & Fieldhouse, Andrew, 2017. "The Macroeconomic Effects of Government Asset Purchases: Evidence from Postwar US Housing Credit Policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 11830, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:11830
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Credit policy; Monetary policy; Mortgage credit; Residential investment; Gses;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • N22 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • R38 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Government Policy
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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