Skip to main content
Log in

Nominal uniqueness and money non-neutrality in the limit-price exchange process

  • Symposium
  • Published:
Economic Theory Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We define continuous-time dynamics for exchange economies with fiat money. Traders have locally rational expectations, face a cash-in-advance constraint, and continuously adjust their short-run dominant strategy in a monetary strategic market game involving a double-auction with limit-price orders. Money has a positive value except on optimal rest-points where it becomes a “veil” and trade vanishes. Typically, there is a piecewise globally unique trade-and-price curve both in real and in nominal variables. Money is not neutral, either in the short-run or long-run and a localized version of the quantity theory of money holds in the short-run. An optimal money growth rate is derived, which enables monetary trade curves to converge towards Pareto optimal rest-points. Below this growth rate, the economy enters a (sub- optimal) liquidity trap where monetary policy is ineffective; above this threshold inflation rises. Finally, market liquidity, measured through the speed of real trades, can be linked to gains-to-trade, households’ expectations, and the quantity of circulating money.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aubin J.-P., Cellina A.: Differential Inclusions. Springer, Berlin (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloise G., Polemarchakis H.M.: Introduction to the symposium. Econ Theory 27(1), 1–23 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnisseau J.-M., Florig M., Jofre A.: Differentiability of equilibria for linear exchange economies. J Optim Theory Appl 109(2), 265–288 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bottazzi J.-M.: Accessibility of pareto optima by Walrasian exchange processes. J Math Econ 23, 585–603 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Champsaur P., Cornet B.: Walrasian exchange processes. In: Gabszewicz, J.-J., Richard, J.-F., Wolsey, L.A. (eds) Economic Decision Making: Games, Econometrics and Optimization, Elsevier, Amsterdam (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Champsaur P., Drèze J.H., Henry C.: Stability theorems with economic applications. Econometrica 45(2), 273–294 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clower R.: A reconsideration for the microeconomic foundations of monetary theory. West Econ J 6, 1–8 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornet, B.: Linear exchange economies. Cahier Eco-Math, Université de Paris 1 (1989)

  • Coste, M.: An introduction to O-minimal geometry, Università di Pisa, lecture notes (2000)

  • Drèze J., Polemarchakis H.: Money and monetary policy in general equilibrium. In: Gérard-Varet, L.-A., Kirman, A.P., Ruggiero, M. (eds) Economics, the Next Ten Years, Oxford University Press, Oxford (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Drèze J., Polemarchakis H.: Intertemporal general equilibrium and monetary theory. In: Leijonhufvud, A. (eds) Monetary Theory as a Basis for Monetary Policy, Macmillan, New York (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Drèze J., Polemarchakis H.: Monetary Equilibrium. In: Debreu, G., Neuefeind, W., Trockel, W. (eds) Economics Essays—A Festschrift for Werner Hildenbrand, Springer, Berlin (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubey P., Geanakoplos J.: The value of money in a finite horizon economy: a role for banks. In: Dasgupta, P., Gale, D. (eds) Economic Analysis of Market and Games, pp. 407–444. MIT Press, Cambridge (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubey P., Geanakoplos J.: Inside and outside money, gains-to-trade and IS-LM. Econ Theory 21, 347–397 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey P., Geanakoplos J.: Monetary equilibrium with missing markets. J Math Econ 39, 585–613 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey P., Geanakoplos J.: Determinacy with nominal assets and outside money. Econ Theory 27(1), 79–106 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey P., Shapley L.S.: Non-cooperative exchange with a continuum of traders: two models. J Math Econ 23(3), 253–293 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Espinoza R., Goodhart C., Tsomocos D.: State prices, liquidity, and default. Econ Theory 39(2), 177–194 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filippov A.I.: Differential Equations with a Discontinuous Right-Hand Side. Kluwer, Dotdrecht (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Florig M.: Hierarchic competitive equilibria. J Math Econ 35, 515–546 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giraud G.: Strategic market games: an introduction. J Math Econ 39, 355–375 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giraud, G.: The Limit-price exchange process. Cahiers de la MSE b04118, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1) (2004)

  • Giraud, G.: From non-tâtonnement to monetary dynamics within general equilibrium theory. In: Lenfant J.-S. (ed.) General Equilibrium as Knowledge. From Walras Onwards (2009, forthcoming)

  • Giraud, G., Tsomocos, D.: Global Uniqueness and Money Non-Neutrality in a Walrasian Dynamics without Rational Expectations, OFRC fe-15 , University of Oxford, Saï d Business School (2004)

  • Goodhart C.A.E., Sunirand P., Tsomocos D.P.: A model to analyse financial fragility. Econ Theory 27, 107–142 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grandmont J.-M.: Temporary equilibriu. In: Lawrence, B., Steve, D. (eds) The New Palgrave, Palgrave McMillan, New York (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grandmont J.-M., Younès Y.: On the role of money and the existence of monetary equilibrium. Rev Econ Stud 39, 355–372 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray L., Geanakoplos J.: When seeing further is not seeing better. Bull Santa Fe Inst 6(2), 1–6 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurley J.G., Shaw E.S.: Money in a Theory of Finance. Brookings, Washington, DC (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, F.-H.: On some problems of proving the existence of an equilibrium in a monetary economy. Hahn, F.H. Brechling, F.R.P. (eds.) The Theory of Interest Rates. New York: MacMillan (1965)

  • Kirman A.P.: Whom or What Does the Representative Individual Represent?. J Econ Perspect 8(2), 11736 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas R.: Expectations and the neutrality of money. J Econ Theory 4, 103–124 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mas-Colell A.: The Theory of General Economic Equilibrium: A Differentiable Approach, Econometric Society Monograph. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mertens J.-F.: The limit-price mechanism. J Math Econ 39, 433–528 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahi S., Yao S.: The Non-cooperative Equilibria of a Trading Economy with Complete Markets and Consistent Prices. J Math Econ 18, 325–346 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapley L.S., Shubik M.: Trading using one commodity as a means of payment. J Polit Econ 85(5), 937–968 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shubik M., Tsomocos D.P.: A strategic market game with a mutual bank with fractional reserves and redemption in gold. J Econ 55(2), 123–150 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shubik M., Wilson C.: The optimal bankuptcy rule in a trading economy using fiat money. J Econ 37, 337–354 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smale S.: Dynamics in general equilibrium theory. Am Econ Rev 66, 288–294 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smale S.: Exchange processes with price adjustment. J Math Econ 3, 211–226 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smale, S.: Some Dynamical Questions in Mathematical Economics. Colloques Internationaux du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, No 259: Systèmes Dynamiques et Modèles Économiques (1977)

  • Tsomocos D.: Equilibrium analysis, banking and financial instability. J Math Econ 39, 619–655 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsomocos D.: Generic determinacy and money non-neutrality of international monetary equilibria. J Math Econ 44(7–8), 866–887 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weyers S.: A strategic market game with limit prices. J Math Econ 39, 529–558 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gaël Giraud.

Additional information

We are grateful to seminar participants at the 1st Annual Caress-Cowles Conference on General Equilibrium and its Applications, New Haven, the General Equilibrium Workshop, Zürich, the University of Strasburg and Paris-1, and especially J.-M. Bonnisseau, B. Cornet, J. Geanakoplos, A. Mas-Colell and H. Polemarchakis for helpful comments. All remaining errors are ours. An earlier version of this paper was circulated under a different title, see Giraud and Tsomocos (2004).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Giraud, G., Tsomocos, D.P. Nominal uniqueness and money non-neutrality in the limit-price exchange process. Econ Theory 45, 303–348 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-009-0507-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-009-0507-4

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation