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American Economic Review: Vol. 102 No. 6 (October 2012)
AER Volume. 102, Issue 6 | 
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Credit Traps
Article Citation
Benmelech, Efraim, and
Nittai K. Bergman. 2012. "Credit Traps."
American Economic Review,
102(6): 3004-32.
DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.6.3004
DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.6.3004
Abstract
This paper studies the limitations of monetary policy in stimulating credit and investment. We show that, under certain circumstances, unconventional monetary policies fail in that liquidity
injections into the banking sector are hoarded and not lent out. We use the term "credit traps" to describe such situations and show how they can arise due to the interplay between financing
frictions, liquidity, and collateral values. We show that small contractions in monetary policy can lead to a collapse in lending. Our analysis demonstrates how quantitative easing may be useful in increasing collateral prices, bank lending, and aggregate investment. (JEL E44, E52, E58, G01)
Article Full-Text Access
Full-text Article
Additional Materials
Online Appendix (286.88 KB)
Authors
Benmelech, Efraim (Northwestern U)
Bergman, Nittai K. (MIT)
Bergman, Nittai K. (MIT)
JEL Classifications
E44: Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
E52: Monetary Policy
E58: Central Banks and Their Policies
G01: Financial Crises
E52: Monetary Policy
E58: Central Banks and Their Policies
G01: Financial Crises
