“Svenskarnas skulder är inte för föga“, artikel på DI.se, 18 februari 2019.
Hur oroliga ska vi vara för hushållens skulder?
Housing Prices, Household Debt, and Macroeconomic Risk: Problems of Macroprudential Policy I
“Housing Prices, Household Debt, and Macroeconomic Risk: Problems of Macroprudential Policy I,” December 2018. Paper.
Abstract
This paper answers three questions about current Swedish housing prices and household debt: (1) Are housing prices too high? (2) Is household debt too high? (3) Does household debt pose an “elevated macroeconomic risk”? Finansinspektionen (the Swedish FSA) has argued that the answers to these questions are all yes and that this has justified a substantial further tightening of already rather tight lending standards, achieved through mandatory amortization requirements and in other ways. This paper argues that the answers to the questions instead are all no, in the following sense: Regarding questions (1) and (2), there is no evidence that housing prices and household debt are higher than what is consistent with their fundamental determinants. Regarding question (3), the “macroeconomic risk” refers to the risk of a larger fall in household consumption in a recession or crisis. There is indeed evidence from Denmark, the UK, and the US of a correlation between households’ pre-crisis indebtedness and subsequent negative consumption responses during the financial crisis 2008-2009. But there is no evidence that high household indebtedness caused a subsequent larger negative consumption response. The correlation is instead explained by an underlying common factor that caused both high pre-crisis indebtedness and a large negative consumption response during the crisis. For Denmark and the UK, the evidence is that the common factor is debt-financed household overconsumption relative to income, more precisely overconsumption financed by housing equity withdrawals. There is also evidence of debt-financed overconsumption for the US. But there is no evidence of debt-financed overconsumption of any macroeconomic significance in Sweden. Therefore, there is no evidence of Swedish household debt posing an elevated macroeconomic risk. In summary, Finansinspektionen’s tightening of lending standards lacks scientific support.
A natural experiment of premature policy normalization and of the neo-Fisherian view
“A natural experiment of premature policy normalization and of the neo-Fisherian view,” panel presentation at the ECB Conference on Monetary Policy: Bridging Science and Practice, October 29-30, 2018, Frankfurt.
Slides pdf powerpoint
Can monetary policy still deliver? A natural experiment
Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy in a Nash Equilibrium
“Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy in a Nash Equilibrium,” panel contribution in the panel “Interaction between Monetary and Fiscal Policies under Inflation Targeting” at the Annual NBU-NBP Research Conference, “Interaction of Fiscal and Monetary Policies,” Kyiv, Ukraine, May 31-June 1, 2018. Slides.
The Future of Monetary Policy and Macroprudential Policy
Intervju i Svenska Dagbladet
Intervju i Svenska Dagbladet, 26 april, 2018.
Panel on Flexible Inflation Targeting at IMF’s Spring Meeting
Panel participation in seminar on Flexible Inflation Targeting at the IMF Spring Meeting, April 18, 2018, with Greg IP, Wall Street Journal as moderater; Tobias Adrian, IMF; Ilan Goldfajn, Central Bank of Brazil; Zdenek Tumame, previously at the Czech National Bank; Ksenia Yudaev, Central Bank of Russia; and me. My contribution are at the times 22:10, 44:50, and 48:45 in the video.
Bloomberg interview: Inflation targeting guru finds system has withstood the test
Bloomberg interview: “Inflation Targeting Guru Finds System Has Withstood the Test,” March 19, 2018.
Monetary Policy and Macroprudential Policy: Different and Separate?
Amortiseringskraven: Inga sakliga skäl, men negativa konsekvenser
“Amorteringskraven: Inga sakliga skäl men negativa konsekvenser“, presentation på Bankföreningens lunchseminarium, 20 februari 2018.
Hur amorteringskraven drabbar unga som vill köpa en etta II: ”Flertalet omfattas inte” eller ”alla drabbas”?
“Hur amorteringskraven drabbar unga som vill köpa en etta II: ‘Flertalet omfattas inte’ eller ‘alla drabbas’?” (“How amortization requirements hurt young buyers of studios II: ‘Most not affected’ or ‘all hurt’?” in Swedish), Ekonomistas post, February 20, 2018.
Hur amorteringskraven drabbar unga som vill köpa en etta I
Amortiseringskraven ökar obalanserna på bostadsmarknaden
“Amorteringskraven ökar obalanserna på bostadsmarknaden” (“Amortization requirements increase housing-market imbalances,” in Swedish), Ekonomistas post.