Zero-Interest Rate Policy and Unintended Consequences in Emerging Markets
Posted: 12 May 2012
Last revised: 28 Apr 2014
University of Leipzig - Institute for Economic Policy
There are 3 versions of this paper
Date Written: February 10, 2012
Abstract
Since 2009, central banks in the major advanced economies have held interest rates at very low levels to stabilize financial markets and support the recovery of their economies. Based on a Mises-Hayek-BIS view on credit booms and Mises’ law of unintended consequences, this paper suggests that the prolonged period of very low interest rates in the large advanced economies (unintentionally) spurs volatile capital flows and fuels asset market bubbles in fast-growing emerging markets. The resulting inflationary pressure and risks of capital flow reversals gives rise to a new wave of interventionism as policymakers in emerging markets increasingly reintroduce financially repressive measures to isolate the economies from foreign capital inflows.
Keywords: Monetary Policy, Emerging Markets, Financial Repression, Mises, Hayek
JEL Classification: B53, E32, E44, F41, F43
Suggested Citation:
Suggested Citation
Hoffmann, Andreas, Zero-Interest Rate Policy and Unintended Consequences in Emerging Markets (February 10, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2055690 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2055690
