Skip to main content

Optimum Quantity of Money

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics
  • 76 Accesses

Abstract

The optimum quantity of money is a normative monetary policy conclusion drawn from the long-run properties of a theoretical model. Most famously associated with Milton Friedman, the optimum calls for a zero nominal rate of interest and thus a steady state of price deflation at the long-run real rate of interest. Although this policy prescription has played a minor role in monetary policy implementation, it has had an enormous influence in monetary theory.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 6,499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 8,499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Bailey, M.J. 1956. The welfare costs of inflationary finance. Journal of Political Economy 64: 93–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chari, V.V., L.J. Christiano, and P. Kehoe. 1996. Optimality of the Friedman rule in economies with distorting taxes. Journal of Monetary Economics 37: 202–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Correia, I., and P. Teles. 1996. Is the Friedman rule optimal when money is an intermediate good. Journal of Monetary Economics 38: 223–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Correia, I., and P. Teles. 1999. The optimal inflation tax. Review of Economic Dynamics 2: 325–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeFiore, F., and P. Teles. 2003. The optimal mix of taxes on money, consumption and income. Journal of Monetary Economics 50: 871–888.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, P.A., and J.A. Mirrlees. 1971. Optimal taxation and public production. American Economic Review 63: 8–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, M. 1960. A program for monetary stability. New York: Fordham University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, M. 1969. The optimum quantity of money and other essays. Chicago: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guidotti, P.E., and C.A. Vegh. 1993. The optimal inflation tax when money reduces transactions costs. Journal of Monetary Economics 31: 189–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimbrough, K.P. 1986. The optimum quantity of money rule in the theory of public finance. Journal of Monetary Economics 18: 277–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lagos, R., and R. Wright. 2005. A unified framework for monetary theory and policy analysis. Journal of Political Economy 46: 463–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, R.E. Jr. 2000. Inflation and welfare. Econometrica 68: 247–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan, C.B., and X. Sala-i-Martin. 1997. The optimum quantity of money: Theory and evidence. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking 29: 687–715.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phelps, E.S. 1973. Inflation in the theory of public finance. Swedish Journal of Economics 75: 37–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, S. 1997. A divisible search model of fiat money. Econometrica 65: 75–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tolley, G. 1957. Providing for growth of the money supply. Journal of Political Economy 65: 465–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodford, M. 2003. Interest and prices. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The author would like to thank Charles Carlstrom and John Hoag for their helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Copyright information

© 2018 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Fuerst, T.S. (2018). Optimum Quantity of Money. In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95189-5_1740

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics