Money as a Potential Anchor for the Price Level: a Critique of the P* Approach

A number of recent articles have attempted to restore the use of a simple measure of the money supply as an indicator of future price levels and to re-establish a causal link from money to prices. Most notably Hallman, Porter and Small (HPS) (1989a), (1989b) originated the approach using US data and Hannah and James(1989) have applied it to the UK The approach broadens the traditional idea of a constant velocity of money by introducing the notion of V* and Q*, the long-run value of velocity and income. These are then used to define P from the traditional quantity theory of money as the long-run equilibrium price level. The analysis then proceeds to estimate a standard Error Correction Model (ECM) for price determination with the levels effect given by (P-P*)t-1. The conclusion drawn is that 'a measure of money that determines the long-run future level of prices is useful in determining the proper monetary policy for attaining price stability. We have shown, through the construction of P*, that M2 can serve as this determinant for the price level' (Hallman, Porter and Small (1982a) p. 23).
We argue in this paper that the P* approach is flawed. It is certainly more complex than traditional monetarist approaches but the fundamental questions of causality are in no way either affected or resolved. The P* analysis is a variant on more conventional cointegration analysis (Engle and Granger (1987), Johansen (1988), Hall (1989)) and we argue that the Johansen framework allows us to address the question in a formal and more complete way. When this approach is applied to the US data used by HPS, we find that while the P* relationship does indeed represent a cointegrating one, it does not have a causal link with prices but rather the causality runs from prices to money - this result conforms well to the work of Hendry and Ericsson (1990) or Hall, Henry and Wilcox (1990), which use this form of relationship to model the demand for money.     

Markov switching causality and the money–output relationship

The causal link between monetary variables and output is one of the most studied issues in macroeconomics. One puzzle from this literature is that the results of causality tests appear to be sensitive with respect to the sample period that one considers. As a way of overcoming this difficulty, we propose a method for analysing Granger causality which is based on a vector autoregressive model with time‐varying parameters. We model parameter time‐variation so as to reflect changes in Granger causality, and assume that these changes are stochastic and governed by an unobservable Markov chain. When applied to US data, our methodology allows us to reconcile previous puzzling differences in the outcome of conventional tests for money–output causality. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A small monetary system for the euro area based on German data

Previous euro area money demand studies have used aggregated national time series data from the countries participating in the European Monetary Union (EMU). However, aggregation may be problematic because macroeconomic convergence processes have taken place in the countries of interest. Therefore, in this study, quarterly German data until 1998 are combined with data from the euro area from 1999 until 2002 and these series are used for fitting a small vector error correction model for the monetary sector of the EMU. A stable long‐run money demand relation is found for the full sample period. Moreover, impulse responses do not change much when the sample period is extended by the EMU period provided the break in the extended data series is captured by a simple dummy variable. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

混频Granger因果关系检验的功效和稳健性分析

研究目标：分析混频Granger因果关系检验的功效及其稳健性。研究方法：以货币与产出间的因果关系为例,比较分析不同情形下,混频和同低频Granger因果关系检验功效的差异性和检验结果的稳健性。研究发现：货币与产出间的因果关系不是一成不变的,混频Granger因果关系检验的水平和功效随着不同层次的货币供给、模型滞后阶数、预测期长度,变量的多寡,以及样本量的大小和所处的经济阶段的变化而呈现异质性和非对称性。研究创新：将混频技术与Granger因果关系结合起来,从不同角度全面系统地检验了货币与产出的因果关系,并分析了该方法的稳健性。研究价值：进行货币政策调控时,须评估不同情形下货币政策的作用效果,选取恰当的时机,采用更加合理的调控手段和方法。     

Money‐output Causality Revisited – A Bayesian Logistic Smooth Transition VECM Perspective*

This article proposes a Bayesian approach to examining money‐output causality within the context of a logistic smooth transition vector error correction model. Our empirical results provide substantial evidence that the postwar US money‐output relationship is nonlinear, with regime changes mainly governed by the output growth and price levels. Furthermore, we obtain strong support for nonlinear Granger causality from money to output, although there is also some evidence for models indicating that money is not Granger causal or long‐run causal to output.     

基于局部调整模型的我国现阶段货币需求函数分析

借鉴成本最小化行为引发的局部调整模型,采用1999年一季度至2005第三季度数据,建立我国短期动态货币需求函数。回归结果显示,实际货币需求的收入弹性为0.166,利率弹性为-0.096,通货膨胀弹性为-0.645,基本符合一般市场经济特质。根据我国近期宏观调控目标进行短期动态预测,得出2005年四季度至2006年四季度名义货币供应量M1季度同比增长率平均为13.2%,表明在当前错综复杂的经济形势下,特别是外部冲击形成空前压力下,我国货币政策应保持谨慎紧缩倾向。     

A Better Understanding of Granger Causality Analysis: A Big Data Environment

This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the causal structure in a multivariate time series by introducing several statistical procedures for testing indirect and spurious causal effects. In practice, detecting these effects is a complicated task, since the auxiliary variables that transmit/induce indirect/spurious causality are very often unknown. The availability of hundreds of economic variables makes this task even more difficult since it is generally infeasible to find the appropriate auxiliary variables among all the available ones. In addition, including hundreds of variables and their lags in a regression equation is technically difficult. The paper proposes several statistical procedures to test for the presence of indirect/spurious causality based on big data analysis. Furthermore, it suggests an identification procedure to find the variables that transmit/induce the indirect/spurious causality. Finally, it provides an empirical application where 135 economic variables were used to study a possible indirect causality from money/credit to income.     

消费率与投资率对我国城市化率的影响

从需求角度出发,运用协整、格兰杰因果检验和向量自回归模型,采用1978—2009年的时间序列数据,分析居民消费率、政府消费率及投资率对我国城市化的效应。研究结果表明:我国居民消费率、政府消费率和投资率与城市化率之间存在长期均衡关系,居民消费率对城市化率具有单向因果关系,居民消费率、政府消费率和投资率对城市化率均有正向效应。     

Empirical Modelling of Money Demand in Periods of Structural Change: The Case of Greece*

This paper examines the behaviour of the demand for money in Greece during 1976Q1 to 2000Q4, a period that witnessed many of the influences that cause money‐demand instability. Two empirical methodologies, vector error correction (VEC) modelling and second‐generation random coefficient (RC) modelling, are used to estimate the demand for money. The coefficients of both the VEC and RC procedures support the hypothesis that the demand for money becomes more responsive to both the own rate of return on money balances and the opportunity cost of holding money because of financial deregulation. In general, both procedures also support the hypothesis that the income elasticity of money demand declines over time as a result of technological improvements in the payments system and the development of money substitutes, which lead to economies of scale in holding money.     

金融发展中的货币需求稳定性研究--基于1994～2005年的协整分析

本文以经济改革和金融发展为背景，从经典货币需求理论分析出发，运用协整检验和误差校正模型对我国货币需求的稳定性问题展开研究。分析结果表明，货币需求、国民收入、利率和通货膨胀率之间存在协整关系；我国货币需求主要受收入因素影响而呈现出长期稳定性特征，长期稳定的货币需求对其即期增长的抑制作用不明显，货币需求函数表现出高收入弹性和低利率弹性，而利率的外生性削弱了货币需求对利率的调节作用；基于VEC模型的短期Granger因果检验，支持货币量、利率和货币政策最终目标之间短期均衡关系的存在。     

Towards estimating the demand for money in China

The demand for money in China is estimated separately for the periods before and after the economic reform. Besides the traditional transactions demand variable, the expected rate of inflation (as a measure of the opportunity cost of holding money) and the monetization process are also incorporated into the demand function. The preliminary results show that the demand for money in China has changed in response to the institutional changes during the economic reform. Adding the monetization and inflation expectation variables into the money demand function has enhanced significantly its explanatory power.     

Aggregate vs. disaggregate data analysis—a paradox in the estimation of a money demand function of Japan under the low interest rate policy

We use Japanese aggregate and disaggregate money demand data to show that conflicting inferences can arise. The aggregate data appears to support the contention that there was no stable money demand function. The disaggregate data shows that there was a stable money demand function. Neither was there any indication of the presence of a liquidity trap. Possible sources of discrepancy are explored and the diametrically opposite results between the aggregate and disaggregate analysis are attributed to the neglected heterogeneity among micro units. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a cointegrating relation among aggregate variables when heterogeneous cointegration relations among micro units exist. We also conduct simulation analysis to show that when such conditions are violated, it is possible to observe stable micro relations, but unit root phenomena among macro variables. Moreover, the prediction of aggregate outcomes, using aggregate data, is less accurate than the prediction based on micro equations, and policy evaluation based on aggregate data ignoring heterogeneity in micro units can be grossly misleading. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Smart money or dumb money? A study on the selection ability of mutual fund investors in China

We examine investors’ mutual fund selection ability in China. Using actively managed equity mutual funds between 2005 and 2011, we find that Chinese investors generally have no mutual fund selection ability, a result contrary to the smart money effect in the United States. We show that mutual funds that receive more new money subsequently underperform significantly. The findings are robust to several risk-adjusted performance measures. The unique data of China provide separate accounts of institutional and individual investors’ new money flowing into and out of mutual funds, allowing us to examine the mutual fund selection ability of institutional and individual investors. We document that institutional investors exhibit a smart money effect, that is, they are able to move new money into (out of) future good (poor) performers. In contrast, individual investors exhibit a dumb money effect. Our results provide useful information for regulators to review their rules, especially for the protection of individual investors regarding mutual fund investing in China. In addition, we show that it is useful to distinguish institutional and individual investors in mutual fund research.     

海南省财政支农与农村居民消费的实证分析

扩大国内需求,对于保持国民经济持续健康发展至关重要,而增加农村居民消费需求是扩大内需的根本途径。文中基于1988-2008年海南省的时间序列数据,运用平稳性检验、协整检验和格兰杰因果检验等方式,揭示了农民消费与财政支农的关系,最后提出了扩大农民消费需求方面建议。     

Health and economic growth in high-income countries revisited: evidence from an augmented production function for the period 1980–2009

This paper uses time series data for seven industrialized countries from 1980–2009 to explore the causality between health care expenditure (HCE) and economic growth. We have set up a classical Cobb–Douglas production function including HCE, labor, capital, and an augmented function additionally including the number of patent applications (as a proxy for technology and research) and the total number of tertiary education students (as a proxy for education). Our results show that there is a long-run relationship between growth and HCE. As regards causality, in the classical production function, evidence for mutual causality between GDP and HCE is noted only in France, Germany and England, causality from HCE to GDP is noted in Italy and Japan, while no causality whatsoever is evidenced in Canada and USA. However, a completely different situation is unveiled when the augmented production function is used with mutual causality being noted in all perused variables. The novelty of our study lies first in that it contributes to the health-growth nexus literature for high-income countries which has been quite controversial and second it sets off new variables whose omission might be one of the reasons of the result dichotomy. Results of this study will be very useful for high-income countries currently afflicted by the economic crisis and embark on HCE curtailments or revisions.     

The stability of money demand in China: Evidence from the ARDL model

This study examines the demand for broad money (M2) in China using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration framework. The results based on the bounds testing procedure confirm that a stable, long-run relationship exists between M2 and its determinants: real income, inflation, foreign interest rates and stock prices. Importantly, our results reveal that stock prices have a significant wealth effect on long- and short-run broad money demand; its omission can lead to serious misspecifications in the money demand function (MDF). This finding is consistent with the notion that asset inflation (deflation) has systematic influence on the pattern of monetary aggregates.     

The impact of foreign variables on domestic money demand: Evidence from the United Kingdom

This paper contributes to the existing money demand literature by developing and estimating a shopping-time model in an open economy framework. Based on this microfoundations-of-money model, United Kingdom quarterly data for the period 1973:2–1997:2 are analyzed in the empirical study. After accounting for nonstationarity in the time series processes, I find three long-run relationships among the relevant variables. Estimation of the error-correction representation implied by the model shows that the foreign exchange rates and the imports consumption, in addition to the domestic variables, have significant effects on British demand for real money. I am grateful to Kenneth D. West, Donald D. Hester, James M. Johannes, Hung-Neng Lai, two anonymous referees, and seminar participants at the University of Alabama and the University of Wisconsin for helpful comments. I also thank the Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for its financial support. Naturally, all remaining errors are mine.     

Granger-causality in multiple time series

The concept of Granger-causality is formulated for a finite-dimensional multiple time series. Special attention is given to causality patterns in autoregressive series, and it is shown how these patterns can be tested under quite general assumptions using a χ² statistic. The power of the test is discussed, and it is shown that the χ² statistic results from a Lagrange multiplier test in the Gaussian case. The causality test is tried both on artificial data and some economic time series. Finally we consider the problem of constrained estimation in models with a known causality structure.     

Estimating the demand for money in Canada: Does including an own rate of return matter?

Traditional studies estimating the long-run demand for real money in Canada assume that narrow money, or M1, bears zero interest. However if implicit interest has been paid, such interest should be taken into account in determining the opportunity cost of holding money. Using quarterly data over the period 1961:1–2000:3 we construct and employ a competitive own rate of return variable. Over 1961:1–1982:1, the conventional money demand model which omits an own rate of return performs well. Over the period 1982:2–2000:3, where the degree of competition in the banking industry increased, the conventional money demand model does not perform well, whereas inclusion of the own rate of return yields correct parameter estimates.     

Further examination of the velocity-money growth variability debate: Evidence from Japan using an error-correction model

The claim that volatility of money leads people to increase their demand for money is tested using recently developed cointegration techniques and error-correction modeling. This approach offers an alternative to the standard Granger-causality test for establishing the long-run relation of velocity and money growth variability. In this paper, we employ these procedures on quarterly data from Japan over the 1973:1–1992:1 flexible exchange rate period. Our findings are supportive of the Friedman hypothesis for both the short and long runs. These results are important empirical additions to the new classical theory of economics which suggests that unanticipated movements in the money supply are non-neutral.