Volume 26, Issue 2

Portfolio models typically ignore precautionary transactions demands for liquid assets, and models of precautionary demands typically ignore asset rate-of-return risk. If asset-holders are risk-averse, however, both transactions risk and rate-of-return risk affect demands for both liquid and illiquid assets, even when the two risks are independent of each other. We demonstrate this in a four-asset framework, and show that our integrated treatment produces unexpected and instructive results and insights. For example, (a) an increase in the expected return to risky securities increases the demand for M1, even when M1 is used entirely for transactions purposes, (b) an increase in the variance of securities returns reduces the demand for M1, and (c) an increase in the asset-holders’ wealth reduces her demand for M1. A broader framework for the study of money demand is thus called for.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted established urban patterns. The literature on the impact of the pandemic on the US housing market has shown a significant increase in the demand for suburban housing, resulting in a considerable increase in suburban prices compared to those in the city center (termed the “donut effect”). However, the German housing market did not experience such drastic changes. To examine price and rent adjustments during the pandemic, we analyze detailed housing data and find little evidence supporting the donut effect seen in the US. Apartment rents increase in suburban areas, while house prices do not change significantly. Examining the role of amenities, we find no explanation for price and rent differences between the central business district (CBD) and suburbs. The differences between the two markets may be attributed to cultural and structural distinctions. Our analysis, which includes data on population patterns and migration behavior, reveals that residents in Germany exhibit a slower-moving trend. Our findings remain robust across different settings and subsets of cities.

We examine the transmission of monetary policy to bank interest rates in the euro area, using a rolling estimation. The results, using various fixations for the Euribor rate and different maturities for bond yields, suggest that the pass through of policy rates to bank interest rates was relatively stable prior to the use of unconventional monetary policy measures. After the use of unconventional policies, the pass-through multiplier from the Euribor rate and the short-term bonds increased, while the pass-through from longer-term bonds markedly decreased. It appears that unconventional monetary policy operations allow for bank lending rates to further decline, which could lead to higher lending, with potential financial stability issues arising. In addition to the excess liquidity created by asset purchases, factors such as credit risk and house price growth also appear to impact the pass through.