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Optimal Taxation by the Monetary Authority

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  • Carl E. Walsh

Abstract

Reserve requirements imposed against bank deposits, nominal interest payments on bank reserves (or on base money), and inflation can all be viewed as generating tax effects. Any analysis of optimal monetary policy in a steady-state equilibrium needs to consider the simultaneous choice of all the tax instruments controlled by the monetary authority. Such an analysis is carried out in this paper. It is shown that when the tax system is not indexed, the optimal nominal interest rate on the monetary authority's liabilities is likely to be zero. More importantly, any discussion of the payment of interest on reserves and currency must take into account the nature of the tax system and the rate of inflation in a nonindexed economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Carl E. Walsh, 1984. "Optimal Taxation by the Monetary Authority," NBER Working Papers 1375, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:1375
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Easterly, William & Schmidt-Hebbel, Klaus, 1991. "The macroeconomics of public sector deficits : a synthesis," Policy Research Working Paper Series 775, The World Bank.
    2. Easterly, William R & Mauro, Paolo & Schmidt-Hebbel, Klaus, 1995. "Money Demand and Seigniorage-Maximizing Inflation," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 27(2), pages 583-603, May.
    3. Ryu‐ichiro Murota & Yoshiyasu Ono, 2012. "Zero Nominal Interest Rates, Unemployment, Excess Reserves And Deflation In A Liquidity Trap," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(2), pages 335-357, May.
    4. Gustavo Suárez R., 1999. "Tecnología de transacciones endógena y los costos de la inflación," Revista ESPE - Ensayos Sobre Política Económica, Banco de la República, issue 35, pages 55-85, June.
    5. Calvo, Guillermo A & Vegh, Carlos A, 1996. "Disinflation and Interest-Bearing Money," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 106(439), pages 1546-1563, November.

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