Empirical Evidence of the Lending Channel of Monetary Policy under Negative Interest Rates

25 Pages Posted: 27 Jan 2020 Last revised: 30 Jun 2021

Date Written: June 2021

Abstract

Does the lending channel of monetary policy operate under a negative interest rate policy (NIRP)? The purpose of this study is to shed light on the existence of a lending channel of monetary policy under NIRP. To do so, we aim to provide an in-depth analysis of the relationship between NIRP and bank-lending behavior. To achieve this, we employ a large panel dataset of 4072 banks operating in 54 countries over the period 2009-2018 and a Difference-in-Differences methodology. We find that banks located in countries affected by negative interest rates have adjusted their bank-lending behavior by increasing lending activities. Our findings suggest that in response to negative interest rates, banks have reduced their lending cost, and increased lending supply, particularly loans with maturities ranging from 3 to 12 months and those over 5 years. Finally, we also find that the transmission of monetary policy under negative interest rates to the real economy depends on banks' specific characteristics such as reliance on retail deposits and size.

Keywords: Negative interest rates, Lending cost, Lending supply, Lending maturity, Difference-in-Differences estimation

JEL Classification: E43, E51, E52, F34, G21

Suggested Citation

Boungou, Whelsy, Empirical Evidence of the Lending Channel of Monetary Policy under Negative Interest Rates (June 2021). Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 2021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3513885 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3513885

Whelsy Boungou (Contact Author)

PSB Paris School of Business ( email )

59 rue Nationale
Paris, 75013
France

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