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Heterogeneous information quality; strategic complementarities and optimal policy design

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  • James, Jonathan G.
  • Lawler, Phillip

Abstract

The beauty-contest framework of Morris and Shin (2002) is extended to allow sub-groups within the population of agents to differ in the quality (i.e. precision) of their private information. We discuss the inefficiency of the resulting model's equilibrium, and assess the relative effectiveness in remedying this inefficiency of: (i) a Pigouvian tax scheme; (ii) direct policy intervention by means of an instrument which can modify the state of the world. The disclosure-policy implications of each of these two policy approaches are also analyzed.

Suggested Citation

  • James, Jonathan G. & Lawler, Phillip, 2012. "Heterogeneous information quality; strategic complementarities and optimal policy design," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 83(3), pages 342-352.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:83:y:2012:i:3:p:342-352
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2012.07.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. N. Gregory Mankiw & Ricardo Reis, 2002. "Sticky Information versus Sticky Prices: A Proposal to Replace the New Keynesian Phillips Curve," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 117(4), pages 1295-1328.
    2. Alan S. Blinder & Michael Ehrmann & Marcel Fratzscher & Jakob De Haan & David-Jan Jansen, 2008. "Central Bank Communication and Monetary Policy: A Survey of Theory and Evidence," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(4), pages 910-945, December.
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    16. Camille Cornand & Frank Heinemann, 2008. "Optimal Degree of Public Information Dissemination," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 118(528), pages 718-742, April.
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    22. Jonathan G. James & Phillip Lawler, 2012. "Strategic Complementarity, Stabilization Policy, and the Optimal Degree of Publicity," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(4), pages 551-572, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jin Yeub Kim & Myungkyu Shim, 2022. "Information Inequality and the Role of Public Information," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 38, pages 207-230.
    2. repec:dpr:wpaper:0908 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Bennani, Hamza, 2014. "Does one word fit all? The asymmetric effects of central banks' communication policy," MPRA Paper 57150, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Emna Trabelsi, 2024. "Welfare fragmented information effects: The cost-benefit analysis and Trade-offs," Journal of Information Economics, Anser Press, vol. 2(1), pages 1-32, March.
    5. Jonathan G. James & Phillip Lawler, 2015. "Heterogeneous private sector information, central bank disclosure, and stabilization policy," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 82(2), pages 620-634, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Strategic complementarity; Public disclosure; Policy intervention;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • 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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