Customer Quote by Athanasios Orphanides
“Near-zero policy rates that may be considerably expansionary in an economy with high inflation could be contractionary when inflation is too close to zero, or worse, deflation has set in.”
About This Quote
Source Paper: "Monetary Policy at the Zero Lower Bound", Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2019
Very low policy rates may seem expansionary but can become contractionary if inflation is near zero or deflation begins.
In simple terms: Near‑zero rates can backfire when inflation is too low.
Key Takeaway
Monitor inflation closely when using low rates.
Themes
monetary policy
inflation
deflation
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
academic
policy‑oriented
When to use this quote
- central bank strategy
- policy analysis
- financial planning
Key Concepts
economic theory
macroeconomic stability
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternative tools can central banks use?
- How does deflation risk affect lending?
A Different Perspective
Low rates may limit policy tools during crises.
