RENOVATIO MONETAE: WHEN GESELL TAXES WORKED

B-Tier
Journal: International Economic Review
Year: 2020
Volume: 61
Issue: 2
Pages: 821-846

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

Gesell taxes on money have recently received attention as a way of alleviating the zero lower bound on interest rates. Less known is that such taxes generated seigniorage in medieval Europe for around two centuries. When a Gesell tax was levied, current coins ceased to be legal and had to be exchanged into new coins for a fee. Using a cash‐in‐advance model, we analyze under what conditions agents exchange coins and the tax generates revenues. A low exchange fee, high punishments for using old coins, and a long time period between re‐mintings induce people to use new coins.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:wly:iecrev:v:61:y:2020:i:2:p:821-846
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29