The Optimal Rate of Money Creation in an Overlapping Generations Model: Numerical Simulations for the U.S. Economy

IMF Working Paper No. 92-37

53 Pages Posted: 5 Jan 2005

See all articles by A. Javier Hamann

A. Javier Hamann

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Independent Evaluation Office

Date Written: May 1992

Abstract

This paper develops a large scale overlapping generations model and calibrates it for the US economy. Simulations with the model show that the steady state welfare maximizing inflation rate may be positive, although the numerical results are not robust. It is also shown, however, that increases in the inflation rate are never Pareto efficient because during the transition to the new steady state at least some generations are made worse-off. Using an optimality criterion that takes into account the welfare of all generations, it is found that implementing Friedman's rule is a Pareto superior policy, and that the efficiency gains derived from implementing such rule could be substantial.

Keywords: optimal money growth, optimal inflation

JEL Classification: E42, E52

Suggested Citation

Hamann, Alfonso Javier, The Optimal Rate of Money Creation in an Overlapping Generations Model: Numerical Simulations for the U.S. Economy (May 1992). IMF Working Paper No. 92-37, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=642782 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.642782

Alfonso Javier Hamann (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Independent Evaluation Office ( email )

700 19th St. NW
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
71
Abstract Views
931
Rank
589,797
PlumX Metrics