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Inflation and Welfare in Long-Run Equilibrium with Firm Dynamics

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  • Janiak, Alexandre

    (University of Chile)

  • Monteiro, Paulo Santos

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract

We analyze the welfare cost of inflation in a model with cash-in-advance constraints and an endogenous distribution of establishments' productivities. Inflation distorts aggregate productivity through firm entry dynamics. The model is calibrated to the United States economy and the long-run equilibrium properties are compared at low and high inflation. We find that, when the period over which the cash-in-advance constraint is binding is one quarter, an annual inflation rate of 10 percent leads to a decrease in the steady-state average productivity of roughly 0.5 percent compared to the optimum's steady-state. This decrease in productivity is not innocuous: it leads to a doubling of the welfare cost of inflation.

Suggested Citation

  • Janiak, Alexandre & Monteiro, Paulo Santos, 2009. "Inflation and Welfare in Long-Run Equilibrium with Firm Dynamics," IZA Discussion Papers 4559, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4559
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    1. Inflation and Welfare in Long-Run Equilibrium with Firm Dynamics
      by Christian Zimmermann in NEP-DGE blog on 2009-11-29 23:07:09

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    Cited by:

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    2. Weber, Henning, 2013. "Learning By Doing in New Firms and the Optimal Rate of Inflation," VfS Annual Conference 2013 (Duesseldorf): Competition Policy and Regulation in a Global Economic Order 79761, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    3. Sofía Bauducco & Alexandre Janiak, 2015. "On the welfare cost of bank concentration," Documentos de Trabajo 321, Centro de Economía Aplicada, Universidad de Chile.
    4. Arawatari, Ryo & Hori, Takeo & Mino, Kazuo, 2018. "On the nonlinear relationship between inflation and growth: A theoretical exposition," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 79-93.
    5. Janiak, Alexandre, 2013. "Structural unemployment and the costs of firm entry and exit," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 1-19.
    6. Alexandre Janiak, 2010. "Structural unemployment and the regulation of product market," Documentos de Trabajo 274, Centro de Economía Aplicada, Universidad de Chile.
    7. Weber, Henning, 2012. "The optimal inflation rate and firm-level productivity growth," Kiel Working Papers 1773, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    8. Chiang, Shu-Hen & Lee, Chien-Chiang & Liao, Ying, 2021. "Exploring the sources of inflation dynamics: New evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 313-332.
    9. Weber, Henning, 2015. "Innovation and the Optimal Rate of Inflation," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113087, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    10. Lu, You-Xun & Chen, Shi-kuan & Lai, Ching-chong, 2022. "Monetary Policy and Economic Growth in a Schumpeterian Model with Incumbents and Entrants," MPRA Paper 112177, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inflation; productivity; firm dynamics; welfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E40 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - General
    • E50 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - General
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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