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Prof. Pierpaolo Benigno

LUISS (Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali) Guido Carli, Roma, Italy

Authors: Pierpaolo Benigno and Salvatore Nisticò

Abstract: This paper studies monetary policy in models where multiple assets have different liquidity properties: safe and "pseudo-safe" assets coexist. A shock worsening the liquidity properties of the pseudo-safe assets raises interest-rate spreads and can cause a deep recession cum deflation. Expanding the central bank's balance sheet fills the shortage of safe assets and counteracts the recession. Lowering the interest rate on reserves insulates market interest rates from the liquidity shock and improves risk sharing between borrowers and savers.

Full Text:  “Safe assets, liquidity and monetary policy”