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Is increased price flexibility stabilizing? Redux

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  • Bhattarai, Saroj
  • Eggertsson, Gauti B.
  • Schoenle, Raphael

Abstract

What are the implications of increased price flexibility on output volatility? In a simple DSGE model, we show analytically that more flexible prices always amplify output volatility for supply shocks and also amplify output volatility for demand shocks if monetary policy does not respond strongly to inflation. More flexible prices often reduce welfare, even under optimal monetary policy if full efficiency cannot be attained. Our results extend to a model with both sticky information and wages. We estimate a quantitative DSGE model using Bayesian methods and using counterfactual experiments show that our results from the simple model continue to apply.

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  • Bhattarai, Saroj & Eggertsson, Gauti B. & Schoenle, Raphael, 2018. "Is increased price flexibility stabilizing? Redux," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 66-82.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:moneco:v:100:y:2018:i:c:p:66-82
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoneco.2018.07.006
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Increased price flexibility; Aggregate volatility; Systematic monetary policy; DSGE model; Bayesian estimation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D58 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - Computable and Other Applied General Equilibrium Models
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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