Optimal Monetary Policy in an Economy with Incomplete Markets and Idiosyncratic Shocks

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  • 1 January 2000
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      • Published in RePEc
Abstract
This study investigates an incomplete markets economy in which the saving behavior of a continuum of infinitely lived agents is influenced by precautionary saving motives and borrowing constraints. Two types of assets (interest bearing IOUs and money) enhance the liquidity of agents by providing an additional means of smoothing consumption and by effectively loosening borrowing constraints. Money is valued because of a timing friction in the bond market. In particular, the bond market closes before agents observe their idiosyncratic productivity shock. High inflation rates will transfer resources from agents with high endowments to those holding bonds which can increase welfare. However, in an inflationary environment, agents economize on money holdings, causing a reduction in welfare. Furthermore, different monetary growth rates will imply different seigniorage revenues for government. The level of seigniorage revenues will determine the interest rate on government bonds, and the effective borrowing constraint. This study quantitatively examines the welfare implications of different monetary growth rates. Initial results indicate that higher inflation rates increase welfare.
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