Customer Anger at Price Increases, Time Variation in the Frequency of Price Changes and Monetary Policy

45 Pages Posted: 16 Nov 2002 Last revised: 21 Dec 2022

See all articles by Julio J. Rotemberg

Julio J. Rotemberg

Harvard University, Business, Government and the International Economy Unit (deceased); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) (deceased)

Date Written: November 2002

Abstract

While much evidence suggests tha price rigidity is due to a concern with the reaction of customers, price increases do not seem to be typically associated with drastic reduction in purchases. To explain this apparent inconsistency, this paper develops a model where consumers care about the fairness of prices and react negatively only when they become convinced that prices are unfair. This leads to price rigidity, though the implications of the model are not identical to those of existing models of costly price adjustment. In particular, the frequency of price adjustment ought to depend on economy-wide variables observed by consumers. As I show, this has implications for the effects of monetary policy. It can, in particular, explain why inflation does not fall immediately after a monetary tightening.

Suggested Citation

Rotemberg, Julio J., Customer Anger at Price Increases, Time Variation in the Frequency of Price Changes and Monetary Policy (November 2002). NBER Working Paper No. w9320, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=352003

Julio J. Rotemberg (Contact Author)

Harvard University, Business, Government and the International Economy Unit (deceased) ( email )

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