Sharing the Burden: Monetary and Fiscal Responses to a World Liquidity Trap

39 Pages Posted: 20 Jun 2011 Last revised: 23 Oct 2024

See all articles by David E. Cook

David E. Cook

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) - Department of Economics; Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) - Department of Economics

Michael B. Devereux

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Department of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Date Written: June 2011

Abstract

With integrated trade and financial markets, a collapse in aggregate demand in a large country can cause 'natural real interest rates' to fall below zero in all countries, giving rise to a global 'liquidity trap'. This paper explores the policy choices that maximize the joint welfare of all countries following such a shock, when governments cooperate on both fiscal and monetary policy. Adjusting to a large negative demand shock requires raising world aggregate demand, as well as redirecting demand towards the source (home) country. The key feature of demand shocks in a liquidity trap is that relative prices respond perversely. A negative shock causes an appreciation of the home terms of trade, exacerbating the slump in the home country. At the zero bound, the home country cannot counter this shock. Because of this, it may be optimal for the foreign policy-maker to raise interest rates. Strikingly, the foreign country may choose to have a positive policy interest rate, even though its 'natural real interest rate' is below zero. A combination of relatively tight monetary policy in the foreign country combined with substantial fiscal expansion in the home country achieves the level and composition of world expenditure that maximizes the joint welfare of the home and foreign country. Thus, in response to conditions generating a global liquidity trap, there is a critical mutual interaction between monetary and fiscal policy.

Suggested Citation

Cook, David E. and Devereux, Michael B., Sharing the Burden: Monetary and Fiscal Responses to a World Liquidity Trap (June 2011). NBER Working Paper No. w17131, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1866645

David E. Cook (Contact Author)

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) - Department of Economics ( email )

Clear Water Bay
Kowloon, Hong Kong
China
2538 7614 (Phone)

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) - Department of Economics ( email )

Clear Water Bay
Kowloon, Hong Kong
China
2538 7614 (Phone)

Michael B. Devereux

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Department of Economics ( email )

997-1873 East Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
Canada
604-822-2542 (Phone)
604-946-6271 (Fax)

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

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