Monetary Targeting

Three monetary regimes, aiming to avoid or mitigate the liquidity trap, are introduced here. They are Inflation Targeting (IT), Price Level Targeting (PLT), and Nominal GDP Targeting (NGDPT).

A brief summary is that NGDPT performs better than PT ( in terms of dealing with the liquidity trap), which in turn performs better than IT.

Before doing the analysis, we modify the model a little bit that makes the price to be “somewhat flexible”.

$$ \bar{p}_t=\frac{m_t}{y_t} $$

In that, if not in the liquidity trap, we assume \( p_t\geq \gamma \bar{p_t}\), with \(\gamma \in (0,1)\). (we previously assume \(p_t\geq \bar{p_t})\).

Therefore, our Euler equation is,

$$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta\gamma \frac{\bar{p_t}}{p_{t+1}}u'(y’) $$

Inflation Targeting

Let the inflation target be \( \frac{p_{t+1}}{p_t}=1+\pi\), then our Euler equation becomes,

$$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta \frac{1}{1+\pi}u'(y’) $$

Therefore, \( \uparrow \pi \Rightarrow \uparrow RHS \Rightarrow \uparrow LHS \Rightarrow \uparrow \hat{y}\). Increase in inflation would raise the current output.

Implication:

  1. The fall in current output in the crisis is less severe (as \(\uparrow \hat{y}\)).
  2. The economy is less likely to fall into a liquidity trap in the first place, because people know inflation in the future, so they will not likely be strucked in the liquidity trap, coz increasing demans in current time) High inflation means money loses value quickly, and thus agents are reluctant to save using cash.

Price Level Targeting

With the price level targeting, the CB aims to keep the price level on a certain path. This means if the CB fails to meet the target, it will catch up in teh later period. For example, if the price level is 100 at period \(t\), and the CB’s price level target is 2%, then the price level in period \(t+1\) should be 102. However, if the CB fails to do that in \(t+1\), then in \(t+2\) the CB should catch up and keep the price level to be 104.

In that, the CB follows \( p_{t+1}=(1+\mu)\bar{p_t}\), where \( \bar{p_t} \) is the “normal times price level”, and \(\bar{p_t}=\frac{m_t}{y_t}\).

Then, the Euler equation

$$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta \gamma \frac{\bar{p_t}}{p_{t+1}}u'(y’) $$

would become,

$$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta \gamma \frac{1}{1+\mu}u'(y’) $$

The difference between the price level target and inflation target in the Euler equation is the \( \gamma\) term. Therefore,

$$ u'(\hat{y_{IT}})=\beta \frac{1}{1+\pi}u'(y’) $$

$$ u'(\hat{y_{PLT}})=\beta \gamma \frac{1}{1+\mu}u'(y’) $$

If \(\pi=\mu\), then the RHS of the second Euler equation is smaller, and thus \(\hat{y_{PLT}} > \hat{y_{IT}}\). (easy to show in maths by assuming the isoelasicity utility function).

NGDP Targeting

With NGDPT, the CB aims to keep nominal GDP on a certain path. For example, aiming to increase NGDP by 2% per year. A failure in one period means a cathcing up in the next period.

$$\underbrace{ p_{t+1}y_{t+1}}_{nominalGDP_{t+1}}=(1+\mu)\underbrace{\bar{p_t}y_t}_{nominalGDP_t} $$

By assuming not in the liquidity trap, \(m_{t+1}=(1+\mu\)m_t\).

Then, the Euler equation

$$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta \gamma \frac{\bar{p_t}}{p_{t+1}}u'(y’) $$

becomes,

$$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta \gamma \frac{ \frac{m_t}{y_t} }{ \frac{m_{t+1}}{y’} }u'(y’) $$

$$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta \gamma \frac{ \frac{m_t}{y_t} }{ \frac{m_t(1+\mu)}{y’} }u'(y’) $$

u'(\hat{y})=\beta \gamma \frac{y’}{y_t}\frac{1}{1+\mu} u'(y’)

Since \( \frac{y’}{y_t}<1 as y'<y_t, and \gamma \in (0,1)\), so RHS is even smaller than that of the PLT Euler equation. Therefore, \(\hat{y_{NGDPT}}\) is even greater than the \(\hat{y_{PLT}}\). That implies that the cirsis would be less severe for a given \(y’\).

How to Ease Liquidity Trap

Four potential solutions,

  1. Covential Monetary policy
  2. Forward guidance
  3. Internal devaluations
  4. Quantitative easing

  • Covential Monetary policy
  • Recall the public sectors budget constraint is ,

    $$ G_t-d_{t+1}=T_t+(m_t-m_{t-1})-(1+i_t)d_t $$

    or

    $$ \underbrace{G_t+(1+i_t)d_t}_{Money Spending}=\underbrace{T_t+(m_t-m_{t-1})+d_{t+1}}_{Money Source} $$

    In a standard open market operation, \(d_{t+1}\) (and \(b_{t+1}\)) would fall, and \(m_t-m_{t-1}\) would rise by the same amount. CB or Gov buy back debts and pool money into the market, so the net debt outstanding decrease and amount of money oustanding increase.

    $$ G_t+(1+i_t)d_t=T_t+(\uparrow m_t-m_{t-1})+\downarrow d_{t+1} $$

    Or through helicopter drop, reducing tax \(T_t\) to increase \(m_t-m_{t-1}\) .

    $$ G_t+(1+i_t)d_t=\downarrow T_t+(\uparrow m_t-m_{t-1})+ d_{t+1} $$

    How private sectors react to the windfall of money?

    Assume in advance that there is a reversal of monetary injection in the period \(t+1\).

    $$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta \frac{\bar{p}_t}{m_{t+1}}y’u'(y’) $$

    Nothing really changes in the Euler equation for private sectors. In other words, \( \hat{y} \) is still decresed from \(y_t\), and is not affected by changes in \(m_t\). \(p_t=\frac{m_t}{y_t}\), partially because \(p_t\) is predetermined already.

    Intuitively, private sectors know the money would be taxed back, so they just hold the extra money (hoard them), and will pay them back as future tax payments. (That’s is the way to make the Euler equation hold). The excess cash holding would not bring an increase in future consumption, because that cash is all for future taxes. Consider the Ricardian Equilibrium.

    P.S. that could be a Pareto-improvement to coordinate on spending.

    As Keynes called “Pushing on a string”. Even if CB drops money from helicopters, the money would not be spent and would be hoarded. Therefore, no real impacts on the economy.

    As shown in the figure, an increase in the money supply (monetary base) would result in people holding more money (excess reserve). At the moment in around 2008, the effective federal fund rate hits zero, liquidity traps started. Injecting more money (increasing the money supply) cause excess cash holding, instead of current output increase.

    Forward Guidance

    Forward guidance means committing to change things in the future (, with perfect credibility).

    Assume that he government commits to expand money supply from /(m/) to /(m’/) in period \(t+1\) onward. Also, assume not in the liquidity trap in \(t+1\), (\(v_{t+1}=1\)). So the price level at \(t+1\) would be,

    $$ p_{t+1}=\frac{m’}{y’}>\frac{m}{y’} $$

    The Euler equation,

    $$ u'(y_t)=\beta \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(y’) $$

    now becomes,

    $$ u'(y_t)=\beta \frac{\bar{p}_t}{m_{t+1}}y’u'(y’) $$

    And \(m_{t+1}\) is increased to \(m’\), so

    $$ u'(y_t)=\beta \frac{\bar{p}_t}{m’}y’u'(y’) $$

    An estimated decrease in future outputs would increase \(y’u'(y’)\). However, a permanent increase in \(m’\) to keep the equation unchanged.

    Forward Guidance differs from the conventional monetary policy because an extra amount of money would not be taxed back. The central bank “commits to act irresponsibly” in the future. Also, the conventional monetary policy emphasises the current money supply, but forward guidance states the future. People will know that there is no need to pay extra tax back in the future.

    The is no clear downward trend of the real output while increasing money supply after getting into the liquidity trap. The market in the US implies that public sectors react to the expected decrease in future output by increasing the money supply in a long period (equivalent to the forward guidance), therefore the real output at the current period does undergo a significant decrease.

    See Krugman (1988) and Eggertsson and Woodford (2003).

    https://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/13/a-quick-note-on-the-fed

    Internal Devaluations

    Here, we consider a production economy instead of an endowment economy. In this way, instead of being endowed with \(y_t\) units of the output good in each period, agents are endowed with one unit of time and they choose an inelastic supply of working.

    Firms are perfectly competitive and produce output according to \(y_t=z_t l_t\), where \( z_t\) donates labour productivity and \(l_t\) the amount of labour hired.

    A representative firm’s optimisation problem is then given by

    $$ \max_{l_t} p_t z_t l_t- \tilde{w_t}l_t $$

    F.O.C.

    $$p_t z_t =\tilde{w_t} $$

    The first-order condition tells that nominal wage stickiness leads to price stickiness. Given wages, \(\tilde{w_t}\), a fall in prices would reduce profits, and firms would shut down their businesses (by perfect competition assumption).

    However, if prices and wages fell in equal proportion, firms would still like to hire equally many works. And the fall in prices would boost demand. P.S. the real wages keep constant.

    Intuition: Firstly, as prices fall, goods get cheaper. So even 80 of spending can buy100 worth of goods. Secondly, as wages also fall, real profits are unchanged, and firms are willing to meet the additional demand. Finally, the positive impacts on \(y_t\) could offset the negative of it (from underestimated future outputs).

    \( \quad \downarrow P \Rightarrow \downarrow W \Rightarrow\) unchanged profits and increase outputs

    Quantitative Easing

    In the open market operation, the CB purchases short-term government bonds (3-month T-bill). By QE, the CB purchases assets with longer maturity and credibility, see The Fed’s Balance Sheet, e.g. MBS.

    The idea of QE is to decrease the interest rate once the short term rate is already zero, and also pool money into the market. In the recession, short term bonds’ nominal interest rates are already zero, but long term bonds may not. Thus, by purchasing long-term bonds, yields are pushed downward (real interest rate falls), and stimulate the economy. (Similar to the non-arbitrage theory). Long-term assets are equally valuable as short term assets at any horizon. In the liquidity trap, short term assets are equally valuable as holding money, so long term assets are perfect subsites to money as well (consider including liquidity premium and risk premium).

    In the model with Cash in Advance and short long term assets, we consider include

    1. A short term asset (one period) \(b_{t+1}^1\).
    2. A long term asset (two periods), \(b_{t+1}^2\).
    3. The price of the short-term asset is denoted \(q_t^1\), and pays out one unit of cash in period t+1.
    4. The price of the long-term asset is denoted \(q_t^2\), and pays out one unit of cash in period t+2.

    The household’s problem is then

    $$ \max_{c_t,b^1_{t+1},x_{t+1}} \sum_{t=0}^{\infty} \beta^t u(c_t) $$

    $$s.t. \quad q_t^1 b_{t+1}^1+ q_t^2 b_{t+1}^2+x_{t+1}+p_t c_t=b_t^1 +q_t^1 b_t^2 +w_{t-1}+x_t – T_t $$

    LHS stands for how to spend money, RHS how money comes from.

    F.O.C.

    $$ u'(c_t)=\beta \frac{1}{q_t^1} \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(c_{t+1}) \quad w.r.t\ b^1$$

    $$ u'(c_t)=\beta \frac{q_{t+1}^1}{q_t^2} \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(c_{t+1}) \quad w.r.t\ b^2$$

    $$ u'(c_t)-\mu_t = \beta \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(c_{t+1}) \quad w.r.t\ x$$

    Therefore, the finding is,

    $$ \beta \underbrace{\frac{q_{t+1}^1}{q_t^2}}_{1+i^2_{t+1}} \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(c_{t+1}) = \beta \underbrace{\frac{1}{q_t^1}}_{1+i_{t+1}^1} \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(c_{t+1}) = \beta \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(c_{t+1}) +\mu $$

    Equivalent to \( Return\ of \ LongTerm=Ro\ ShortTerm=Ro\ Cash\).

    Long-term bonds are traded at arbitrage with short-term bonds which are traded at arbitrage with money.

    Recall that the purpose of QE is to reduce the return on long-term bonds but that cannot be done.

    If in the liquidity trap, \( x_{t+1}=0, \mu=0, i_t=0 \Rightarrow \frac{1}{q_t^1}=1 \Leftrightarrow \frac{q_{t+1}^1}{q_t^2}=1 \).

    In the figure, the green curve represents QE (Fed Balance sheet). During the 2008 financial crisis and Covid-19, the Fed purchase assets (MBS and Long-term T bonds) and pay with money, in order to release liquidity into the market.

    In the end,

    1. Convential monetary policy – ineffective
    2. Forward guidance – effective
    3. Inteernal devaluations – effective but hard
    4. Quantitative easing – ineffective

    Real Business Cycle (RBC) Theory

    The word “real” means the real term in contract with the word “monetary”. Therefore, the real business cycle is not about the monetary policy, but about the negative supply shock. The RBC theory explains most of the business cycle in human history.

    Examples

    For example. in the early agriculture society, agriculture consists most of GDP. If extreme weather condition happens (the real shock), then there are bad harvests and bad outputs for almost all economy. People have less to eat, and an economic recession emerges. In the modern economy, outputs are more diversified. Another is that in the 1973 oil crisis, the OPEC oil embargo induced the oil price increase. The increase in oil prices made production costs increase for other goods and services, and led to an overall recession. A recent example is a crisis in Brazil. A decrease in commodity prices hugely reduced incomes (net export). Also, the Brazilian government became erratic and unpredictable (no clear target and no credible), bringing further risks to the Brazilian economy.

    Shocks

    Examples of shocks are,

    1. Technology schoks
    2. Policy shocks: Fiscal policy & Monetary shocks
    3. Political shocks: changes in polical party
    4. Expectations shocks: animial spirits
    5. Natural disaster

    Propagation mechanisms

    Two Propagation mechanisms are here, the labour propagation mechanism and the intertemporal one. See notes.

    Potential Solutions

    1. Try to avoid the problem in the first place. For example, if the oil price is expected to increae, then invest in other alternative energy to decreae the effects of oil price increase on production costs. In other word, diversity the production costs and make the production process not rely too much on oil.
    2. Make the economy more flexible and can be adjustable to negative supply shocks quickly.

    Problems

    1. It do not explain all business cycles, which are not caused by supply shocks. For example, a lot busienss cycles are about monetary polcy, banking, and credit.
    2. It does not explain why unemployment rate is so high in labour economics.

    In short, before the RBC model, macroeconomic studies mainly focus on the IS-LM and AD-AS. The building up of RBC solves the problem that macroeconomic study did not have a solid microeconomic background.

    RBC model is like a new classical model with shocks, based on the key assumption that markets are perfectly competitive. Then, market players maximise their utility subject to certain constraints. Through the RBC model, we can get the co-movement of outputs, labours and capitals. Market fluctuations are caused by shocks. Without shocks, the markets are in equilibrium condition over time, because markets are competitive. Meanwhile, money is not included in the RBC model, so all factors are in real terms.

    The Study of 1973-75 Oil Crisis

    The first oil crisis started with the oil embargo proclaimed by OPEC.

    OPEC: Oil exporting nations accumulated vast wealth due to the price increase. US: the oil price increase induced the recession, inflation, reduced productivity, and low economic growth.

    Whyt did Keynesian economics fail in the 1970s?

    According to Keynesians, the growth in the money supply can increase employment and promote economic growth. Keynesian economists believe in the Philips relationship between unemployment (economic growth) and inflation. However, both of them hiked in the 1970s.

    Why did stagflation occur?

    The prevailing belief has been that high levels of inflation were the result of an oil supply shock and the resulting increase in the price of gasoline, which drove the prices of everything else higher (cost-push inflation).

    A now well-founded principle of economics is that excess liquidity in the money supply can lead to price inflation. Monetary policy was expansive during the 1970s, which could help explain the rampant inflation at the time.

    How did Friedman work?

    “Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon.”

    Milton Friedman

    During the energy crisis of the 1970s, while everyone was blaming OPEC in the early part of the 70s, or the Iranian revolution in 1979, Friedman recognized who the real culprits were — Richard Nixon, who in 1973 instituted wage-price controls and, following Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter who continued these price controls on oil, gasoline, and natural gas.

    “The present oil crisis has not been produced by the oil companies. It is a result of government mismanagement exacerbated by the Mideast war.”

    Milton Friedman, “Why Some Prices Should Rise,” Newsweek, November 19, 1973.

    Friedman believed prices could not increase without an increase in the money supply. The Fed followed a constrictive monetary policy that helped drive interest rates to double-digit levels, reduce inflation.

    P.S. Fed’s credibility and inflation expectation (inflation targets) also play roles in resulting in stagflation.

    Inspiration

    Inflation (or hyperinflation) is a monetary phenomenon by Friedman and some economists. In China’s case, stagflation seems unable to happen if there are no vast increase in money supply and loss of credibility of the central bank.

    To be continued

    Neoclassical and New Classical Macroeconomics

    Continue with the blog Keynesianism and Monetarism. Here is the summary of school of economic theory.

    Classical Economics

    Starting with The Wealth of Nations, 1776, by Adam Smith. The central idea is that the market can be self-correcting. The central assumption implied is that all individuals choose to maximise their utility.

    Neoclassical Economics

    Neoclassical economics is formalised by Alfred Marshall (Marshallian demand, and Cambridge quantitative theory of money). The school is based on the mathematical formulation of the general equilibrium by Léon Walras (Walras’ Law).

    Neoclassical economics states that the production, consumption and valuation (pricing) of goods and services are driven by the supply and demand model. Value is determined by maximising utility s.t. constraints.

    Assumptions: 1. people have rational preferences (complete and transitive, see R100 at the Cambridge uni); 2. individuals maximise their utility and firms maximise profits; 3. people act independently on the basis of full and relevant information.

    Neoclassical schools dominated until the Great Depression during the 1930s. However, John Maynard Keynes led with the publishment of The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. Keynesian dominated until 1973-1975 recession triggered by the 1973 oil crisis (stagflation crisis resulted from oil price increase) that Keynesian policy failed to reduce unemployment and also lead to hyperinflation. Phillips curve also failed because high unemployment and inflation came together. Then, new classical took the dominant.

    New Neoclassical Economics

    The new classical school works on real business cycle (Real Business Cycle model) theory that used fully specified general equilibrium models and used changes in technology to explain fluctuations in economic output.

    Modigliani-Miller (M&M) Theorem

    M&M theorem (Modigliani and Miller, 1958) is used to value a firm. It states that a firm’s value is based on its ability to earn revenue plus its risk of underlying assets. The way a firm finances its operations should not affect its value.

    At its most basic level, the theorem argues that, with certain assumptions in place, it is irrelevant whether a company finances its growth by borrowing, by issuing stock shares, or by reinvesting its profits.

    Assumptions are 1. the markets are completely efficient; 2. there are no costs of bankruptcy or agency dynamics and no taxes.

    However, there are of course taxes and costs in the reality, and the assumptions do not hold. Therefore, the M&M theorem implies that firms are more valuable if financed by debts than financed by equities. The reason is the tax shield effects of debts.

    Mathematic Example

    Consider two companies, same risks, same expected cash flow before interest, \( Y\).

    1. Co1, has debt with market value of \(D_1\). Total market value \(V_1=E_1+D_1\).
    2. Co2, has no debt. \(V_2=E_2\), market value of equity.

    We can invest,

    • Investment A: We own a fraction \(a\) (e.g. 6%) of shares in Co1z. They worth \(aE_1\) (e.g. $6,000). Expected cash flow from investment A, \(y_A\), is:

    $$(y_A=\underbrace{a}_{SharesOwned} \times \underbrace{(Y-R_D D_1)}_{Co1’s EarningAfterInterest}$$

    Co1 needs to pay an interest rate of its debt, \(R_D D_1\). Purchasing Co1 means only purchasing the equity of Co1, which is EV-Debts.

    • Investment B: We sell the shares of Co1. We receive amount \(aE_1\) ($6,000). Then, we use this to buy shares in Co2, which is ungeared.

    To Produce the same gearing and risk as investment A, we borrow a further amount worth \(aD_1\) (‘home-made gearing’ or ‘artificially gearing’), at interest rate \(R_D\), and buy more shares in Co2.

    E.G. if gearing of Co1 is \( \frac{D_1}{D_1+E_1}=0.25\), then to get same gear for our investment B, we borrow \(6,000\times \frac{0.25}{0.75}=2,000\).

    Expected cash flow from investment B, \( y_B\), is:

    $$ y_B=\frac{aE_1+aD_1}{E_2}Y-R_D\times aD_1 = a\frac{V_1}{V_2}Y-R_D\times aD_1$$

    In equilibrium, \( y_A=y_B\). Otherwise, arbitrage opportunity emerges. Therefore, we get \(V_1=V_2\).

    In conclusion, gearing does not affect value (Equity plus Debt).

    Implication

    Since expected net cash flow (\(Y\)) and company value are the same for each company, the cost of equity for ungeared Co2 and WACC for geared Co1 must be equal. So WACC must be constant with respect to gearing.

    Let the cost of equity for a company with no debt be \(R_{ungeared}\).

    $$ R_{ungeared}=R_D\frac{D}{V}+R_E\frac{E}{V}=WACC$$

    $$ R_{ungeared}=R_D\frac{D}{D+E}+R_E\frac{E}{D+E}=WACC$$

    WACC is constant w.r.t. \(\frac{D}{V}\).

    $$ R_{ungeared}(D+E)=R_DD+R_EE$$

    $$ R_EE=R_{ungeared}(D+E)-R_DD $$

    $$ R_E=R_{ungeared}+(R_{ungeared}-R_D)\frac{D}{E} $$

    So we get a linear relation between cost of equity and D/E, assuming a constant cost of debt, assuming a constant cost of debt (and assuming \(R_{ungeared}>R_D\)). Implicly, changes in gearing structure (or how to finance the business) do not affect the WACC for a company.

    The relation is shown in this figure

    Violation of the constant debt assumption of course would make WACC unconstant.

    MM Theory & Beta

    In the CAPM, expected returns on assets differ because their betas differ.

    So we can write,

    $$ \beta_{ungeared}=\beta_{debt}\frac{D}{D+E}+\beta_{geared}\frac{E}{D+E} $$

    $$\beta_{geared}=\beta_{ungeared}+(\beta_{ungeared}-\beta_{debt})\frac{D}{E}$$

    , where \(\beta_{ungeared}\) denotes asset beta, and \( \beta_{geared}\) denotes actual beta of shares of a geared company (estimated from the market data).

    Calculations are similar to those as above.

    If assume \(\beta_{debt}=0\), then

    $$ \beta_{ungeared}=\beta_{geared} \frac{E}{V}$$

    $$ \beta_{geared}=\beta_{ungeared}(1+\frac{D}{E}) $$

    A Modigliani-Miller Theorem for Open-Market Operations

    Monetary policy determines the composition of the government’s portfolio. Fiscal policy (the size of the deficit on the current account) determines the path of net government indebtedness. Wallace showed that alternative paths of the government’s portfolio consistent with a single path of fiscal policy can be irrelevant. The irrelevance means that both the equilibrium consumption allocation and the path of the price level are independent of the path of the government’s portfolio.

    Typos are there. See the original paper issued by Fed in 1979.

    Reference

    Modigliani, F. and Miller, M.H., 1958. The cost of capital, corporation finance and the theory of investment. The American economic review48(3), pp.261-297.

    Wallace, N., 1981. A Modigliani-Miller theorem for open-market operations. The American Economic Review71(3), pp.267-274.

    Liquidity Trap

    Recall the Euler condition in the previous blog post A Cash-in-Advance Model.

    $$ u'(y_t)=\beta(1+i_t)\frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(y_{t+1}) $$

    Assumption

    For simplification, we assume no government spending, \(g_t\), government debt, \(d_t\), and taxes, \(T_t\). Also, we assume money is stable such that \(m_t=m_{t+1}=m\) (so there is not seignorage). We here consider \(y_t\) is exogenous.

    Recall

    Suppose that \( y_t=u_{t+1}=…=y\), then

    $$\quad 1=\beta(1+i_{t+1})\frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}$$

    Now if guess both \(x_{t+1}=x_{t+2}=0\), then the velocity of money \(v_t=1\).

    \( \quad p_t=p_{t+1}=\frac{m}{y}, \quad \) and \(\quad i_{t+1}=\frac{1}{\beta}-1\geq0\)

    P.S. if violate the guess \(x_{t+1}=x_{t+2}=0\), then the euler equation shows \(1+\beta (1+i_{t+1})\frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}\) would be \( p_{t+1}=\beta p_{t}\). So, \( p_{t+1}<p_t\). By QTM \(m \cdot v_t= p_t \cdot y\) (\(m, y\) are constant), \( v_{t+1}<v_T\) must be true to make next-period price level be low than the current price level. Lower velocity means \( x_{t+2}>x_{t+1}\) (people would hoard more money on hand in the next period). The loop begins, and price level would decline in the following periods.

    If future outputs decrease,

    u'(y_t)=\beta(1+i_t)\frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(y_{t+1})

    If replace \(p_{t+1}=\frac{m_{t+1} v_{t+1}}{y_{t+1}}\),

    u'(y_t)=\beta(1+i_t)\frac{p_t \times y_{t+1}}{m_{t+1}v_{t+1}}u'(y_{t+1})

    u'(y_t)=\beta(1+i_t)\frac{p_t \times y_{t+1}}{m_{t+1}-x_{t+2}}u'(y_{t+1})

    Here, by complementary slackness, \( x_{t+2}\times i_{t+1}=0\).

    If replace \(p_{t+1}=\frac{m_{t+1} v_{t+1}}{y_{t+1}}\), =\frac{m_{t+1}}{y_{t+1}}\) by assume not in liquidity trap in the first so \(v_{t+1}=1\). Then we get,

    u'(y_t)=\beta(1+i_t)\frac{p_t \times y_{t+1}}{m_{t+1}}u'(y_{t+1})

    We, in the following, assume \(x u'(x)\) is decreasing in x.

    If the economy experiences a fall in period \( t+1\) output from \(y_{t+1}\) to \(y’_{t+1}\). What happens to the nominal interest rate?

    We write it in this way for simplification.

    u'(y)=\beta(1+i_t)\frac{p_t }{m}y’u'(y’)

    As \(y_{t+1}\) decrease, \(y’u'(y’)\) increase as our assumption. The LHS keeps stable, so the interest rate has to decrease to keep the equality holding. Therefore, \(i_{t+1}\) we’ll eventually hit zero.

    As \( i_{t+1}=0\), the economy enters into the liquidity trap, and people start to hoard money ,\(x_{t+1}>0\). Recall the QTM equation, \(p_t=\frac{ m_t-x_{t+1} }{y_t}=\frac{mv_t}{y} \), \(p_t\) would decrease. So, the price level at time \(t\) finally decreases as well.

    From the figure, we can find that once the effective federal fund rate (The effective federal funds rate (EFFR) is calculated as a volume-weighted median of overnight federal funds transactions) hits zero, excess reserves increases. Injecting more money would only cause excess money reserves in the liquidity trap.

    If future outputs decrease and price is sticky,

    An extension. If the price is “sticky” in the short run. In other words, \( \bar{p}_t=\frac{m}{y}\), price cannot fall below a certain threshold. Then, a decrease in \(y_{t+1}\) would end up with decrease in current output \(y_t\). As shown in the following equation,

    $$ u'(\hat{y})=\beta \frac{\bar{p}_t}{m}y’u'(y’) $$

    Future output decrease, then RHS increases, and so LHS has to increase as well. \(\frac{\partial u'(y)}{\partial y}=u”(y)\) is negative. For example, in the isoelasticity form \( u(c)=\frac{c^{1-\sigma}}{1-\sigma} \), and \(0\leq \sigma \leq1\).

    In summary, recession in \(t+1\) would bring down \(y_{t+1}\). Then, firstly, decrease \(i_{t+1}\) to 0; secondly, reduce \(p_t\) to \(\bar{y}\) if price is stikcy; and thirdly, drive \(y_t\) decrease in the end. (All those are based on the guess of \(x_{t+1}=x_{t+2}=0\))

    In a liquidity trap with sticky prices, outputs become “demand-driven”. The reason is that the Euler Equation is derived from the private sector, and thus \(u'(y_t)=u'(c_t)\) if not replaced with the markets clearing condition in equilibrium. The equation would then show that the increase in the LHS is driven by a decrease in consumption. A disequilibrium starts. Finally, a recession begins if nothing happened to productive capacity.

    Intuition

    • Private sectors initially earn income, say 100, and buy goods for100 as well (Normal situation).
    • When they receive a “news” that income will decrease in the future from \(y_{t+1}\) to \(y’\), then they all wish to save.
    • However, in the aggregate, nobody can save, because noboday want to borrow or invest.
    • So the interest rate, as the benefits of saving, decrease to eventally zero, and private sectors start to hoard cash.
    • Thus, instead of spending 100, they spend80 and save $20. The demand drives down current outputs.

    Role of price stickiness

    • Initally, current and future outputs (endownments) are all $100. \(y_{t}=y_{t+1}=100\).
    • A news tells us future output decrease to 80. In the current period, we save20 and spend $80. Same as the above process.
    • So, current spending is 80 and future spending is100.

    If the price is sticky, consume $80 today and price decreases 20% at the same time. Ending up with the same amount of current consumption, \(y_t\). No recession.

    If the price is sticky, then agents spend $20 fewer goods in the current. Worse off. And recession.

    Friedman Rule

    Let’s continue with the previous blog post The Neutrality of Money.

    In the previous model, consumers maximise their utility subject to contraints.

    $$ \max_{c_t, b_{t+1}, x_{t+1}} \sum_{t=0}^{\infty}\ \beta^{t} [u(c_t)-v(l_t)] $$

    $$ p_{t-1}y_{t-1}+b_t(1+i_t)+x_{t}-T_t=x_{t+1}+p_t c_t+b_{t+1} $$

    0 \leq x_{t+1}

    $$ 0 \leq l_t \leq 1 $$

    We have solved it and get the Euler condition,

    v'(y)=\beta u'(y)\frac{1}{\pi}

    Here, we would consider the Planner’s Problem that makes social optimal.

    Planner’s Problem

    In the planner’s problem, we would release the budget constraints and cash-in-advance constraints, because the planner only needs to achieve social optimal. The planner’s problem is as the following.

    \max_{c_t, b_{t+1}, x_{t+1}} \sum_{t=0}^{\infty}\ \beta^{t} [u(c_t)-v(l_t)]

    $$ s.t. \quad c_t=l_t $$

    F.O.C.

    $$ u'(c_t)=v'(l_t) $$

    Here let’s compare the planner’s Euler equation with the private sector one.

    To make them equal, the only thing we need to adjust is to let \( \beta\times\frac{1}{1+\pi}=1\). The implication is that we need \( \pi =\beta -1\). As in the steady state, the discount factor \( \beta = \frac{1}{1+r}\), so the optimal inflation rate should be \( \pi^*=\frac{-r}{1+r}\).

    The implication is that the optimal inflation rate is negative and close to the negative real interest rate.

    Cash Credit Good Model

    Stokey and Lucas (1987) included the cash-credit good into the cash in advance model.

    \max_{ \{ c_t,b_{t+1} \}_{t=0}^{\infty} } \sum_{t=0}^{\infty}\ \beta^{t} [u(c_t^1)+u(c_t^2)]

    $$ s.t. \quad b_{t+1}+p_t c_t^1+p_{t-1} c_{t-1}^2 =(1+i_t)b_t+p_{t-1}y_{t-1}$$

    In equilibrium, markets clear and resources constraints,

    $$ y_{t-1}=c_{t-1}^1+c_{t-1}^2 $$

    y_{t}=c_{t}^1+c_{t}^2

    F.O.C.

    $$ u'(c_t^1)=\lambda_t p_t $$

    $$ u'(c_t^2)=\beta\lambda_{t+1}p_t $$

    $$\lambda_t=\beta \lambda_{t+1}(1+i_{t+1})$$

    Combining them we can get

    $$ \frac{u'(c_t^1)}{ u'(c_t^2) }=1+i_{t+1}$$

    The ratio of marginal utility is equal to one plus the nominal interest rate.

    The implication is that people want to consume \(c_t^2\) instead of \(c_t^1\), pay money at the time at \(t\), and hold some bonds and earn the nominal interest rate.

    However, the planner problem is that

    $$ \frac{u'(c_t^1)}{ u'(c_t^2) }=1 $$

    Thus, the optimal rule is to set \(i_{t+1}=0\).

    The Euler equation in the steady state (\( c_t^i=c_{t+1}^i=…=c^i \)) is that,

    $$ \beta \frac{1+i_{t+1}}{1+\pi_t}=1 $$

    By plugging in \(i_{t+1}=0\), \(\pi^*=\beta -1 \), the Friedman rule also holds.

    The Neutrality of Money

    Assume the cash-in-advance constraint always binds \((x_{t+1}=0)\).

    Still, private sectors maximise their utility s.t. budget constraint and cash-in-advance constraint. Let’s also include labor as a disutility and assume output is produced by labour.

    $$ \max_{c_t, b_{t+1}, x_{t+1}} \sum_{t=0}^{\infty}\ \beta^{t} [u(c_t)-v(l_t)] $$

    $$ p_{t-1}y_{t-1}+b_t(1+i_t)+x_{t}-T_t=x_{t+1}+p_t c_t+b_{t+1} $$

    0 \leq x_{t+1}

    $$ 0 \leq l_t \leq 1 $$

    , with \( y_{t-1}=l_{t-1}\)

    Now the output is not exogenous anymore but depends on an agent’s willingness to work.

    F.O.C.

    w.r.t. \(c_t: \quad u'(c_t)=\beta (1+i_{t+1})\frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(c_{t+1}) \)

    w.r.t. \(l_t: \quad v'(l_t)=\beta u'(c_{t+1})\frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}} \)

    At the steady state, \( \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}=\frac{1}{1+\pi}\) and \(y_t=l_t=c_t=y\) (output is equal to labour’s production in the long run). The output could be calculated as the following equation. (at the steady state means in the long run).

    v'(y)=\beta u'(y)\frac{1}{\pi}

    Therefore, we can find that,

    1. Money is netural: if change \( m \) (stock of money, or money supply), then output is not affected. For example, if money doubles in all time, the fraction \( \frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}\) keeps constant. No affecting the real term of output \( y\).
    2. Moeny is not super netural: if change \(\pi\) (inflation rate), then output would change. (y decrases if \(\pi\) increases. That can be analysed by the curvture of \( v\) and \( u\) functions).

    Question: First we assume cash-in-advance constraint binds. The QTM states that \( growth rate of money\) and \(inflation \) is one-to-one correlated only if assuming /(y/) is stable (\(m_t=p_t y\)). However, we find the relationship between inflation and output here. There seems a contradiction of whether fixes \(y\) or not. So, how to bridge the connection between inflation and money growth?

    Answer: From the demand point of view or the Cash-in-Advance constraint ( \(p_t c_t=M_t, or x_t=0\) by our previous assumption ). At the steady state, consumption is stationary, so \( \frac{M_t}{p_t}=\frac{M_{t+1}}{p_{t+1}}= \frac{M_{t+2}}{p_{t+2}} =…\) imply the stock of money and price level are connected, and so the connection between growth rate of money and inlfation works. The inspiration is the cash-in-advance constraint binds, and we consider the problem by fixing consumption in the long-run stationary condition.

    The question and answer also state that the neutrality of money bases the key cash-in-advance assumption.

    Empirical study examples are as McCandless and Weber (1995)

    Reference

    McCandless, G.T. and Weber, W.E., 1995. Some monetary facts. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Quarterly Review19(3), pp.2-11.

    A Cash-in-Advance Model

    Here, I would use the cash in advance model to illustrate some economic phenomena.

    Assumptions

    Two core assumptions of the cash in advance model. 1. People need cash to purchase goods. 2. Income is received with a lag. The main implication of those two assumptions is that people cannot use the proceeds from the current sales to fund the purchases because people cannot get income back immediately but in the next period (e.g. employees earn wages with a lag).

    Market Players

    Before talking about the model, I would first illustrate the balance sheet of three main players in the market, the central bank, the government, and the private sector.

    Monetary Authority or the central bank faces a simplified budget constraint,

    $$ \hat{b}_t (1+i_t)+m_t=\hat{b}_{t+1}+m_{t-1}+tr_t, \quad t=0,1,2,… $$

    • \( \hat{b}_t \) denotes the hodling of government bonds
    • \( i_t \) is the nominal interest rate
    • \(m_t\) is the money stock
    • \(tr_t\) are transfers to the government

    Fiscal Authoristy or government face the following constraint,

    $$ T_t+tr_t+\hat{d}_{t+1}=\hat{d}_t (1+i_t)+p_t g_t $$

    • \( \hat{d}_t\) denotes the government debt
    • \( T_t\) are tax revenues
    • \( g_t\) is (real) government purchases
    • \( p_t\) is the price level

    LHS represents the assets, and RHS represents the liability.

    If consolidate those two constraints together, then we get the public sector Budget Constraint,

    $$ T_t+(\hat{b}_t-\hat{d}_t)(1+i_t)-m_{t-1}=(\hat{b}_{t+1}-\hat{d}_{t+1}-m_t+p_t g_t) $$

    If define \( D_t=\hat{d}_t+m_{t-1}-\hat{b}_t \) as the net position of public sector debt, then we get,

    $$ \underbrace{T_t}_{taxes}+ \underbrace{(D_{t+1}-D_t)}_{deficit}+\underbrace{m_{t-1}i_t}_{seignorage}=\underbrace{i_t D_t}_{interest}+\underbrace{p_t g_t}_{spending} $$

    Or if define \(d_t=\hat{d}_t-\hat{b}_t\) (, which can be considered as the net position of government debt, the net amount runing in private sectors), then

    \underbrace{T_t}_{taxes}+ \underbrace{(d_{t+1}-d_t)}_{deficit}+\underbrace{(m_t-m_{t-1})}_{seignorage}=\underbrace{i_t d_t}_{interest}+\underbrace{p_t g_t}_{spending}

    P.S. Serignorage behaves like the tax of inflation? See the reading in the end.

    Private Sectors: Consider that private sectors have an endowment \(y_t\) each period, and they would sell the endowment to get cash, \(p_t \cdot y_t\), in the subsequent period. Private sectors then have to use those cash to buy endowments (goods and services). The private sectors face a budget constraint as the following,

    $$ p_{t-1}y_{t-1}+b_t(1+i_t)+(M_{t-1}-p_{t-1}c_{t-1})-T_t=M_t+b_{t+1} $$

    $$ p_t c_t \leq M_t $$

    , where \( b_t \) is the government bond and \( M_t \) is the money holding.

    If define \( x_{t+1} = M_t – p_t c_t \), which means the excess cash holding, then the budget constraints of private sectors are,

    $$ p_{t-1}y_{t-1}+b_t(1+i_t)+x_{t}-T_t=x_{t+1}+p_t c_t+b_{t+1} $$

    x_{t+1} \geq 0

    LHS are the source of money at period \(t\), and RHS are how the private sector uses those money. The private sector can use the money to (1) consumer, (2) buy bond and earn interest, and (3) simply hold the money

    Private sectors maximise their lifetime utility subject to budget constraints.

    $$ \max_{c_t, b_{t+1}, x_{t+1}} \sum_{t=0}^{\infty}\ \beta^{t}\cdot u(c_t) $$

    $$ s.t. Two\ Constaints $$

    Solve the problem by Lagrangian.

    $$ \mathcal{L}= \sum_{t=0}^{\infty} \beta^t \{ u(c_t) \\ – \lambda_t ( x_{t+1}+p_t c_t+b_{t+1}-p_{t-1}y_{t-1}+b_t(1+i_t)+x_{t}-T_t ) \\ -\mu_t x_{t+1} \} $$

    Take f.o.c.

    \( \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{c_t}: \quad u'(c_t)=\lambda_t p_t \)

    \( \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{b_{t+1}}: \quad \lambda_t=\beta(1+i_{t+1})\lambda_{t+1} \)

    \( \frac{\partial \mathcal{L}}{x_{t+1}}: \quad \lambda_t -\mu_t=\beta \lambda_{t+1} \)

    Here, let’s focus on the second and the third equation. If \( i_{t+1} =0\), then \(\mu\) has to be zero as well to make them equal. Also, by completementary slackness, if \( \mu =0\), then \(x_{t+1}\) must be greater than zero.

    The implication is that private sectors would hold excess cash (hoard cash) even if the interest rate is zero. That is the liquidity trap. Although the government adjusts the interest rate to be zero in order to stimulate the economy, people do not spend that money. Instead, people just hoard the money.

    Euler Condition of Private Sectors

    Combining three f.o.c., we can get the following Euler condition.

    $$ u'(c_t)=\beta(1+i_{t+1})\frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(c_{t+1}) $$

    u'(y_t)=\beta(1+i_{t+1})\frac{p_t}{p_{t+1}}u'(y_{t+1})

    If markets clear, then \(y_t=c_t\).

    Competitve Equilibrium

    The competitive equilibrium of this problem is a sequence of price \( \{ p_t,i_{t+1} \}^{\infty}_{t=0}\) and allocations \( \{ c_t, b_{t+1}, x_{t+1}, g_t, T_t, d_{t+1}, m_t \} \) such that given price,

    1. The sequence \( \{ p_t,i_{t+1} \}^{\infty}_{t=0}\) solves the household’s problem.
    2. Bond markets clear, \( b_t =d_t \).
    3. Goods markets clear, \( y_t = c_t+g_t \).

    Equation of Exhange

    We here combine the private sectors and public sectors’ budget constraints and apply the markets clear condition, and then we can get,

    $$ p_{t-1}y_{t-1}+x_t+(m_t-m_{t-1})=p_t y_t +x_{t+1} $$

    Assume at the beginning period when \( t=0\), \( y_{t-1}=x_0=m_{-1}=0\). Thus,

    $$ m_0=p_0 y_0 +x_1 $$

    Similarly, in the following period,

    $$ m_t = p_t y_t +x_{t+1} $$

    The above equation is the equation of exchange, the one I mentioned in the blog: Quantity Theory of Money (QTM). It is called the Fischer equation or quantity equation.

    Define \( v_t =\frac{m_t-x_{t+1}}{m_t} \), then we can get the QTM equation.

    $$ m_t v_t = p_t y_t $$

    Recall the liquidity trap. If in the liquidity trap, then \( i_{t+1}=0 \) and \(x_{t+1}>0\) people hoard excess money. Therefore, the velocity of money \(v_t <1\) .

    However, if not in the liquidity trap, then \( i_{t+1}>0\), and \(x_{t+1}=0 \) and \(v_t=1\), so

    $$ m_t=p_t y_t\ and\ p_t=\frac{m_t}{y_t} $$

    P.S. Here if we take logarithm to the equation of exchange, then we can get the relationship \( i_t \approx \pi_t + r_t \).

    Also, if the output is relatively stable \( y_t=y\), then \( p_t=\frac{m_t}{y}\) (price level or is directly affected by money. Or if taking the logarithm, the inflation rate is one-to-one affected by the growth rate of money). P.S. the close to one relationship only works in the long run, see Wen (2006).

    The empirical evidence of the relationship between excess reserves and the velocity of money can be found. In the figure, those two variables are negatively correlated.

    Government Deficits Cause Inflation

    Here, I would apply the equation of exchange and government budget constraint to explain how inflation is generated by government deficits. Recalling the government budget constraint,

    \overbrace{p_t g_t}^{Gov Spending} + \overbrace{i_t d_t}^{Interest Payment} = \underbrace{(d_{t+1}-d_t)}_{Increase in Debt Position}+\underbrace{T_t}_{Tax Revenue}+\underbrace{m_t-m_{t-1}}_{Print Money}

    devide by \( p_t\) to get the equation in the real term,

    $$ g_t+i_t \frac{d_t}{p_t}=\frac{d_{t+1}-d_t}{p_t}+\tau_t+\frac{m_t-m_{t-1}}{p_t} $$

    , where \( \tau_t=\frac{T_t}{p_t}\).

    By denoting real government debt as \( \hat{d}_t=\frac{d_t}{p_{t-1}}\), and replace \( (1+r_t)=(1+i_t)\frac{P_{t-1}}{P_t}=\frac{1+i_t}{1+\pi_t} \) and \( m_t = p_t y_t \), then we get all variables are in real terms,

    $$ g_t – \tau_t +(1+r_t)\hat{d}_t =\hat{d}_{t+1}+\frac{p_t y_t-p_{t-1}y_{t-1}}{p_t}$$

    At the steady state \( g_t=g_{t+1}=g, \tau_t=\tau_{t+1}=\tau \) and so on, and thus,

    $$ \underbrace{g+r\hat{d}-\tau }_{Growth\ of \ interest\ deficits}= \underbrace{\frac{p_t-p_{t-1}}{p_t}}_{Seignorage} \times y$$

    From the above equation, we can find that if inflation increases then it means the RHS increases. The LHS consists of two parts. Government Spendings \( g + r\hat{d}\) and government revenues \( \tau \). That means the government is getting deficits if the LHS rises. Meanwhile, the RHS increases and so inflation grows.

    In sum, we find that government deficits, in the long run, would induce inflation. The zero-inflation condition is to make the LHS of the equation equal to zero (government spendings offset government revenue).

    Reference

    Wen, Y., 2006. The quantity theory of money. Monetary Trends, (Nov).