Is a Secondary Currency Essential? – On the Welfare Effects of a New Currency
Loading...
Date
Authors
Publisher
Abstract
The coexistence of cash and digital currencies constitutes a system of parallel currencies. This paper tackles the question whether a new (digital) currency is essential: Does a new currency allow for a better resource allocation even if a fully accepted currency is in circulation and still remains in circulation? Using the dual currency search model of Kiyotaki and Wright (1993), we show how the introduction of a secondary currency affects average utility. There is some scope for a welfare improvement, the welfare effect depends on differences in returns and costs, and, in particular, the fraction of cash traders who will be replaced by digital money traders.
Metadata
License
This item has been published with the following license: In Copyright