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  3. American Economic Review
  4. October 2012
  5. Credit Traps

American Economic Review

ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)

Credit Traps

  • Efraim Benmelech
  • Nittai K. Bergman
American Economic Review
vol. 102, no. 6, October 2012
(pp. 3004–32)
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Abstract

This paper studies the limitations of monetary policy in stimulating credit and investment. We show that, under certain circumstances, unconventional monetary policies fail in that liquidity injections into the banking sector are hoarded and not lent out. We use the term "credit traps" to describe such situations and show how they can arise due to the interplay between financing frictions, liquidity, and collateral values. We show that small contractions in monetary policy can lead to a collapse in lending. Our analysis demonstrates how quantitative easing may be useful in increasing collateral prices, bank lending, and aggregate investment. (JEL E44, E52, E58, G01)

Citation

Benmelech, Efraim, and Nittai K. Bergman. 2012. "Credit Traps." American Economic Review, 102 (6): 3004–32. DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.6.3004

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • E44 Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
  • E52 Monetary Policy
  • E58 Central Banks and Their Policies
  • G01 Financial Crises