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Political Attitudes and Inflation Expectations: Evidence and Implications

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  • CHRISTIAN GILLITZER
  • NALINI PRASAD
  • TIM ROBINSON

Abstract

We show that for the United States and Australia consumers expect significantly lower inflation when the political party they support holds executive office. This finding cannot be explained by previously documented sources of heterogeneity in consumer inflation expectations. It is consistent with stereotypical thinking (Bordalo et al. 2016), pointing to the use of heuristics in the formation of macro‐economic beliefs. Our findings have implications for consumers' understanding of central bank independence and its connection with inflation stabilization.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Gillitzer & Nalini Prasad & Tim Robinson, 2021. "Political Attitudes and Inflation Expectations: Evidence and Implications," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 53(4), pages 605-634, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jmoncb:v:53:y:2021:i:4:p:605-634
    DOI: 10.1111/jmcb.12797
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    2. Coleman, Winnie & Nautz, Dieter, 2021. "Inflation expectations, inflation target credibility and the COVID-19 pandemic: New evidence from Germany," CFS Working Paper Series 658, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    3. Benjamin Beckers & Anthony Brassil, 2022. "Inflation Expectations in Australia," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 55(1), pages 125-135, March.
    4. Masciandaro, Donato, 2022. "Independence, conservatism, and beyond: Monetary policy, central bank governance and central banker preferences (1981–2021)," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    5. Nguyen, Thanh Pham Thien & Nghiem, Son & Tripe, David, 2021. "Does oil price aggravate the impact of economic policy uncertainty on bank performance in India?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    6. Winnie Coleman & Dieter Nautz, 2023. "Inflation Expectations, Inflation Target Credibility, and the COVID‐19 Pandemic: Evidence from Germany," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 55(7), pages 1937-1953, October.
    7. Chua, Chew Lian & Tsiaplias, Sarantis, 2024. "The influence of supermarket prices on consumer inflation expectations," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 414-433.
    8. Coleman, Winnie & Nautz, Dieter, 2022. "Inflation Expectations, Inflation Target Credibility and the COVID-19 Pandemic: New Evidence from Germany," VfS Annual Conference 2022 (Basel): Big Data in Economics 264094, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    9. Ethan Struby & Christina Farhart, 2024. "Inflation Expectations and Political Polarization: Evidence from the Cooperative Election Study," Working Papers 2024-01, Carleton College, Department of Economics.

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