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Search frictions, real rigidities and inflation dynamics

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  • Carlos Thomas

    (Banco de España)

Abstract

I analyze the effect of search frictions on inflation dynamics, in a New Keynesian model where firms make both pricing and vacancy posting decisions. I find that search frictions create real rigidities in price setting. This mechanism flattens the New Keynesian Phillips curve, relative both to the standard model with a frictionless labor market and a model where pricing and vacancy posting decisions are made by different subsets of firms. This helps the model improve its empirical performance along a number of dimensions. First, inflation becomes more persistent. Second, output responses to monetary shocks become larger and more persistent. Finally, unemployment becomes more volatile.

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  • Carlos Thomas, 2008. "Search frictions, real rigidities and inflation dynamics," Working Papers 0806, Banco de España.
    • Handle: RePEc:bde:wpaper:0806
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    search and matching; real rigidities; New Keynesian Phillips curve;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • J40 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - General

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