“Interest Rate Trap”, or Why Does the Central Bank Keep the Policy Rate Too Low for Too Long?

B-Tier
Journal: Scandanavian Journal of Economics
Year: 2015
Volume: 117
Issue: 4
Pages: 1256-1280

Authors (2)

Jin Cao (Norges Bank) Gerhard Illing (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.009 = (α=2.02 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

In this paper, we provide a framework for modeling one risk-taking channel of monetary policy, the mechanism whereby financial intermediaries' incentives for liquidity transformation are affected by the central bank's reaction to a financial crisis. The anticipation of the central bank's reaction to liquidity stress gives banks incentives to invest in excessive liquidity transformation, triggering an “interest rate trap” – the economy will remain stuck in a long-lasting period of suboptimal, low interest rate equilibrium. We demonstrate that interest rate policy as a financial stabilizer is dynamically inconsistent, and the constrained efficient outcome can be implemented by imposing ex ante liquidity requirements.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:scandj:v:117:y:2015:i:4:p:1256-1280
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25