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Inattention and the impact of monetary policy

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  • Zidong An
  • Salem Abo‐Zaid
  • Xuguang Simon Sheng

Abstract

We measure aggregate inattention as the common component in agents' inattentiveness to many economic variables. Applying this measure to the US Survey of Professional Forecasters enables us to establish the following empirical evidence. Professional forecasters update their information sets every 5 months on average but do so more frequently in response to high inflation and unemployment, as well as rising market volatility and policy uncertainty. Monetary policy shocks have larger real effects when the degree of inattention is higher. To explain our empirical findings, we propose a general equilibrium model with state‐dependent information rigidity in both the production and household sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Zidong An & Salem Abo‐Zaid & Xuguang Simon Sheng, 2023. "Inattention and the impact of monetary policy," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(4), pages 623-643, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:japmet:v:38:y:2023:i:4:p:623-643
    DOI: 10.1002/jae.2960
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    Cited by:

    1. An, Zidong & Zheng, Xinye, 2023. "Diligent forecasters can make accurate predictions despite disagreeing with the consensus," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    2. Meyer-Gohde, Alexander & Tzaawa-Krenzler, Mary, 2023. "Sticky information and the Taylor principle," IMFS Working Paper Series 189, Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Monetary and Financial Stability (IMFS).

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