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Covid-19 and the euthanasia of interest rates: A critical assessment of central bank policy in our times

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  • Mayer, Thomas
  • Schnabl, Gunther

Abstract

We compare the New Keynesian and Austrian explanations for low interest rates in the light of the Corona crisis. From a New Keynesian perspective low interest rates are the result of structural changes in the society and the economy as well as the cyclical downswing triggered by the Corona pandemic. In contrast, from the perspective of Austrian economic theory, interest rates have been pushed down on trend by central banks for a long time to stimulate growth, with the global financial crisis of 2007/08 and the Corona crisis of 2020 acting as powerful accelerators of the euthanasia of interest. New Keynesian theory would suggest that interest rates can be adjusted upward again when conditions change, without creating economic and financial disturbances. Against this, Austrian theory finds that central banks have backed themselves into a corner by creating persistent low-interest expectations.

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  • Mayer, Thomas & Schnabl, Gunther, 2021. "Covid-19 and the euthanasia of interest rates: A critical assessment of central bank policy in our times," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(6), pages 1241-1258.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:43:y:2021:i:6:p:1241-1258
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2021.04.004
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mises; Hayek; Keynes; Hansen; Summers; Corona crisis; Secular stagnation; Aging societies; Global savings glut; Monetary policy; Central banks; Credit creation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E12 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Keynes; Keynesian; Post-Keynesian; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E14 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Austrian; Evolutionary; Institutional
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects

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