On the welfare effects of phasing out paper currency

B-Tier
Journal: European Economic Review
Year: 2021
Volume: 137
Issue: C

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We quantify the welfare effects of cash suppression policies within a general equilibrium model where cash reduces transactions costs and aids tax evasion in underground markets. In the model, currency suppression increases transactions costs and raises effective tax rates, but shifts resources out of costly underground markets and relaxes the government budget. When coupled with a reduction in distortionary taxes on consumption or factor inputs to ensure budget neutrality, cash suppression policies increase welfare in our baseline representative agent model. In a model with individual heterogeneity in cash use, suppression increases welfare for all, but by less for cash-intensive users.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:eecrev:v:137:y:2021:i:c:s0014292121001331
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25