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The Long-Term Effects of Inflation on Inflation Expectations

Author

Listed:
  • Fabio Braggion
  • Felix von Meyerinck
  • Nic Schaub
  • Michael Weber
  • Michael Weber

Abstract

We study the long-term effects of inflation surges on inflation expectations using Germany as a laboratory. Households living in areas with higher local inflation during the hyperinflation of the 1920s expect higher inflation today, even after controlling for known determinants of historical inflation and inflation expectations and despite facing similar inflation rates today. Our evidence points towards a vertical transmission of inflation experiences from parents to children and a horizontal transmission through collective memory. Differential historical inflation also modulates the updating of expectations to current inflation, the response to economic policies affecting inflation, and financial decisions. We obtain similar results for Polish households residing in formerly German areas. Overall, our findings are consistent with inflationary shocks having a long-lasting impact on attitudes towards inflation, which raises the costs of disinflationary policies by central banks.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Braggion & Felix von Meyerinck & Nic Schaub & Michael Weber & Michael Weber, 2025. "The Long-Term Effects of Inflation on Inflation Expectations," CESifo Working Paper Series 11679, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11679
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inflation; inflation expectations; long-term persistence; German hyperinflation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E71 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on the Macro Economy
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • N14 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: 1913-

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