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What determines households inflation expectations? Theory and evidence from a household survey

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  • Easaw, Joshy
  • Golinelli, Roberto
  • Malgarini, Marco

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is to study how households form inflation expectations using a novel survey dataset of Italian households. We extend the existing ‘inattentiveness’ literature by incorporating explicitly inflation targets and distinguishing between aggregate and disaggregate dynamics based on demographic groups. We also consider both the short- and long-run dynamics as households update their inflation expectations. While we find clear distinctions between the various demographic groups behavior, households tend to absorb professionals forecast. The short-run dynamics also indicate they not only overreact when updating their expectations but also adjust asymmetrically to any perceived momentum change of future inflation.

Suggested Citation

  • Easaw, Joshy & Golinelli, Roberto & Malgarini, Marco, 2013. "What determines households inflation expectations? Theory and evidence from a household survey," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1-13.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:61:y:2013:i:c:p:1-13
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2013.02.009
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inflation expectations; Perceived inflation; Survey data; Heterogeneous panels; Nonlinear effects;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • E1 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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