Money, Inflation, and Capital Formation: An Analysis of the Long Run from the Perspective of Overlapping Generations Models

This book is a slightly revised version of my doctoral thesis which I wrote during my time as an assistant at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Magdeburg. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to write my the­ sis in the stimulating atmosphere of this young and lively faculty. lowe a great amount of gratitude to my supervisor Prof. G. Schwodiauer who con­ stantly encouraged my work and helped to improve it in many discussions. I also would like to thank Prof. K-H. Paque and Prof. P. Flaschel who, as members of my doctoral committee, commented on various details of this study in a very constructive manner. At various stages of my work I received helpful comments from many colleagues of mine, in particular T. Konig and A. Wohrmann. However, it goes without saying that I retain full responsi­ bility for all remaining errors. Contents Introduction 1 I Money, inflation, and capital formation in the long run: general remarks 5 1 Summary of the literature: theoretical aspects 7 2 Summary of the literature: empirical aspects 19 3 Further reflections on money 29 II Money, inflation, and capital formation: the perspective of overlapping generations models 43 4 The Diamond model with money as single outside asset 45 4. 1 The model. . . . . . . . 46 4. 2 Equilibrium conditions. 51 4. 3 Policy effects 58 4. 4 Discussion. 61 4. 5 Appendix . 63 5 Variation 1: Imperfect credit markets and asymmetric information 65 5. 1 The model. . . . . . . .