Loss Aversion and the Asymmetric Transmission of Monetary Policy

Emiliano Santoro, Ivan Petrella, Damjan Pfajfar, Edoardo Gaffeo

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36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is widespread evidence that monetary policy exerts asymmetric effects on output over contractions and expansions in economic activity, while price responses display no sizeable asymmetry. To rationalize these facts we develop a dynamic general equilibrium model where households’ utility depends on consumption deviations from a reference level below which loss aversion is displayed. State-dependent degrees of real rigidity and elasticity of intertemporal substitution in consumption generate competing effects on output and inflation. Contractions face the Central Bank with higher responsiveness of output to interest rate changes, as well as a flatter aggregate supply schedule.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Monetary Economics
Volume68
Pages (from-to) 19–36
Number of pages27
ISSN0304-3932
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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