Inflation, output and welfare
By: Ricardo Lagos and Guillaume Rocheteau.
Contributors: Rocheteau, Guillaume.
Series: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Research Department staff report ;; 342; Staff report (Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Research Dept. : Online) ;; 342.
Publisher: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Published: 2004
Place of publication: [Minneapolis, Minn.]
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Subjects: Inflation (Finance)
Description: "This paper studies the effects of anticipated inflation on aggregate output and welfare within a search-theoretic framework.  We allow money-holders to choose the intensities with which they search for trading partners, so inflation affects the frequency of trade as well as the quantity of output produced in each trade.  We consider the standard pricing mechanism for search models, i.e., ex post bargaining, as well as a notion of competitive pricing.  If prices are bargained over, the equilibrium is generically inefficient and an increase in inflation reduces buyers' search intensities, output and welfare.  If prices are posted and buyers can direct their search, search intensities are increasing with inflation for low inflation rates and decreasing for high inflation rates.  The Friedman Rule achieves the first-best allocation and inflation always reduces welfare even though it can have a positive effect on output for low inflation rates"--Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis web site.
Notes: Also available in print.
Includes bibliographical references.
Title from PDF file as viewed on 11/10/2004.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.