The Unintended Consequences of the Zero Lower Bound Policy
51 Pages Posted: 20 Jun 2016 Last revised: 27 Jan 2023
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The Unintended Consequences of the Zero Lower Bound Policy
Date Written: June 2016
Abstract
We study the impact of the zero lower bound interest rate policy on the industrial organization of the U.S. money fund industry. We find that in response to policies that maintain low interest rates, money funds: change their product offerings by investing in riskier asset classes; are more likely to exit the market; and reduce the fees they charge their investors. The consequence of fund closures resulting from interest rate policy is the relocation of resources in affected fund families and in the asset management industry in general, as well as decline in capital of issuers borrowing from money funds.
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