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The Equilibrium and Optimal Timing of Price Changes

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  • Laurence Ball
  • David Romer

Abstract

This paper studies the welfare properties of the equilibrium timing of price changes. Staggered price setting has the advantage that it permits rapid adjustment to firm-specific shocks, but the disadvantages that it causes unwanted fluctuations in relative prices and that, by creating price level inertia, it can increase aggregate fluctuations. Because each firm ignores its contribution to these problems, staggering can be a stable equilibrium even if it is highly inefficient. In addition, there can be multiple equilibria in the timing of prices changes; indeed, whenever there is an inefficient staggered equilibrium, there is also an efficient equilibrium with synchronized price setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurence Ball & David Romer, 1989. "The Equilibrium and Optimal Timing of Price Changes," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 56(2), pages 179-198.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:restud:v:56:y:1989:i:2:p:179-198.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Taylor, John B, 1979. "Staggered Wage Setting in a Macro Model," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 69(2), pages 108-113, May.
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    5. Anonymous, 1985. "Forthcoming in December," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 79(3), pages 830-830, September.
    6. Laurence Ball, 1988. "Is Equilibrium Indexation Efficient?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 103(2), pages 299-311.
    7. Parkin, Michael, 1986. "The Output-Inflation Trade-off When Prices Are Costly to Change," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 94(1), pages 200-224, February.
    8. Gray, Jo Anna, 1978. "On Indexation and Contract Length," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 86(1), pages 1-18, February.
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