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The Anatomy of Inflation: An Economic History Perspective

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Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of inflation continues to remain at the center of work in macroeconomics. This chapter provides an up-to-date survey of inflation and its principal driving forces. The chapter starts by reviewing stylized fact about inflation and summarizing the behavior of in inflation in some commodity money systems. It then summarizes the main theories that are used to explain movements in inflation. We also discuss the role played by inflation volatility and episodes of hyperinflation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wilfrid Laurier University and Balsillie School of International Affairs, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Pierre L. Siklos

  2. School of Business and Economics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

    Martin T. Bohl

Authors
  1. Pierre L. Siklos
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  2. Martin T. Bohl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierre L. Siklos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dpt of Economic History & Institutions, Universidad Carlos III Madrid, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Stefano Battilossi

  2. RSCAS/Dpt of History and Civilization, European University Institute, Florence, Firenze, Italy

    Youssef Cassis

  3. School of Commerce, Waseda University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Kazuhiko Yago

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Siklos, P.L., Bohl, M.T. (2018). The Anatomy of Inflation: An Economic History Perspective. In: Battilossi, S., Cassis, Y., Yago, K. (eds) Handbook of the History of Money and Currency. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0622-7_35-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0622-7_35-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0622-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0622-7

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