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Rebalancing Frequency and the Welfare Cost of Inflation

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  • André C. Silva

Abstract

Cash-in-advance models usually require agents to reallocate money and bonds in fixed periods. Every month or quarter, for example. I show that fixed periods underestimate the welfare cost of inflation. I use a model in which agents choose how often they exchange bonds for money. In the benchmark specification, the welfare cost of 10 percent instead of 0 inflation increases from 0.1 percent of income with fixed periods to 1 percent with optimal periods. The results are robust to different preferences, to different compositions of income in bonds or money, and to the introduction of capital and labor. (JEL: E30, E40, E50)

Suggested Citation

  • André C. Silva, 2012. "Rebalancing Frequency and the Welfare Cost of Inflation," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(2), pages 153-183, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmac:v:4:y:2012:i:2:p:153-83
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/mac.4.2.153
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    Cited by:

    1. Bernardino Adão & André C. Silva, 2015. "Increased strength of monetary policy," Economic Bulletin and Financial Stability Report Articles and Banco de Portugal Economic Studies, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    2. Miller, Stephen M. & Martins, Luis Filipe & Gupta, Rangan, 2019. "A Time-Varying Approach Of The Us Welfare Cost Of Inflation," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(2), pages 775-797, March.
    3. Fernando Alvarez & Francesco Lippi, 2022. "The Analytic Theory of a Monetary Shock," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 90(4), pages 1655-1680, July.
    4. Bernardino Adão & André C. Silva, 2019. "Real transfers and the Friedman rule," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 67(1), pages 155-177, February.
    5. Andre C. Silva, 2011. "Individual and aggregate money demands," Nova SBE Working Paper Series wp557, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics.
    6. Bernardino Adão & André C. Silva, 2021. "Government financing, inflation, and the financial sector," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 71(4), pages 1357-1396, June.
    7. Adão, Bernardino & Silva, André C., 2020. "The effect of firm cash holdings on monetary policy," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    8. repec:ipg:wpaper:2014-474 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Fernando Alvarez & Francesco Lippi & Roberto Robatto, 2019. "Cost of Inflation in Inventory Theoretical Models," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 32, pages 206-226, April.
    10. Nuno Palma & André C. Silva, 2024. "Spending A Windfall," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 65(1), pages 283-313, February.
    11. Bernardino Adão & André C. Silva, 2012. "Welfare costs of inflation with distortionary taxation," Economic Bulletin and Financial Stability Report Articles and Banco de Portugal Economic Studies, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    12. Dotsey, Michael & Guerron-Quintana, Pablo A., 2016. "Interest rates and prices in an inventory model of money with credit," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 71-89.
    13. Maio, Paulo & Silva, André C., 2020. "Asset pricing implications of money: New evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    14. Gillman Max, 2020. "The welfare cost of inflation with banking time," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 20(1), pages 1-20, January.
    15. Andre Silva & Bernardino Adao, 2012. "Debt Financing," 2012 Meeting Papers 577, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    16. Max Gillman, 2018. "The Welfare Cost of Ináation with Banking Time," Working Papers 1014, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E30 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E40 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - General
    • E50 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - General

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