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Preferences, inflation, and welfare

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  • Curran, Michael
  • Dressler, Scott J.

Abstract

This paper systematically examines how degrees of household risk aversion (RA) and elasticity of intertemporal substitution (EIS) impact the welfare costs of inflation in a heterogeneous-agent environment featuring capital and essential money. Empirical evidence suggests that households have degrees of RA and EIS that differ on average from traditional values and display large amounts of dispersion. Capturing these empirical features of preference values in an otherwise standard model leads to welfare enhancements of inflation due to household substitution of money for capital. The analysis also compares the welfare implications for alternative ways to implement monetary policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Curran, Michael & Dressler, Scott J., 2020. "Preferences, inflation, and welfare," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:130:y:2020:i:c:s0014292120302245
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2020.103594
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inflation; Welfare; Ex-ante heterogeneity; Recursive preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money
    • E50 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - General

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