| Abstract: | While standard discussions of the transmission mechanism ofmonetary policy tend to assume a strong and negative link betweenreal interest rates and real macroeconomic activity, and thisappears to some extent to be borne out by simulation of large-scalemacroeconometric models, the empirical evidence suggests thatthe link between real interest rates and macroeconomic aggregatessuch as consumption and investment is, in fact, somewhat tenuous.The weak link between interest rates and aggregate consumptionmay be explained at a theoretical level, while the apparentlyweak link between interest rates and investment is more puzzling,although it may be related to neglect of issues such as uncertaintyand the irreversibility of investment in empirical studies.Similarly, evidence on the link between real interest ratesand economic growth is mixed, and this may be related to non-linearitiesin the relationship. The survey highlights the need for furtherresearch in this area. |
