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Consumer Payment Choice and the Heterogeneous Impact of India’s Demonetization

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  • Ayushi Bajaj
  • Nikhil Damodaran

Abstract

Consumer payment choice is based on heterogeneous preferences, availability, usage costs, and effective taxes. We examine the consequences of this choice on consump-tion distribution, aggregate output, welfare and the shadow economy. We employ this framework to analyze India’s unexpected demonetization of 86% of its currency in circulation. We find that this shock to liquidity led to an immediate and temporary fall in aggregate output and welfare. Further, it led to disparate distributional effects as not all consumers could switch to non-cash payments. Using consumption distribu-tion data, we find the lower and middle deciles in rural areas were disproportionately affected.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayushi Bajaj & Nikhil Damodaran, 2020. "Consumer Payment Choice and the Heterogeneous Impact of India’s Demonetization," Monash Economics Working Papers 07-20, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2020-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Jeremy Srouji & Dominique Torre, 2022. "The Global Pandemic, Laboratory of the Cashless Economy?," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Jeremy Samer Srouji, 2020. "Digital Payments, the Cashless Economy, and Financial Inclusion in the United Arab Emirates: Why Is Everyone Still Transacting in Cash?," Post-Print hal-03015357, HAL.
    4. Anirudh Tagat & Mehmet Özmen & Gregory Markowsky, 2024. "Banknote Life in India: A Survival Analysis Approach," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 22(2), pages 519-545, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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