The Redistributive Effects of Monetary Policy
University of Zurich Department of Economics Working Paper No. 44
24 Pages Posted: 12 Nov 2011
There are 2 versions of this paper
The Redistributive Effects of Monetary Policy
Date Written: October 31, 2011
Abstract
We introduce a model of the economy as a social network. Two agents are linked to the extent that they transact with each other. This generates well-defined topological notions of location, neighborhood and closeness. We investigate the implications of our model for monetary economics. When a central bank increases the money supply, it must inject the money somewhere in the economy. We demonstrate that the agent closest to the location where money is injected is better off, and the one furthest is worse off. This redistribution channel is independent from the ones previously noted in the literature. Symmetrically, any decrease in the money supply redistributes purchasing power in the other direction. We also outline the testable implications of our model.
Keywords: Money, redistribution, policy, central bank, social network, topology
JEL Classification: E40, E50
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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