Research Database

This article reviews recent work that generalizes a random matching model of money to permit there to be a mix of transactions: some accomplished through the use of tangible media of exchange and the rest through some form of credit. The generalizations are accomplished by specifying assumptions about common knowledge of individual histories that are intermediate between no common knowledge and complete common knowledge. One of the specifications permits a simple representation of the sense in which more common knowledge is beneficial. The other permits a comparison between using outside money and using inside money as a medium of exchange.

A pairwise random matching game is considered to identify the social environments that give rise to the social custom and fashion cycles. The game, played by Conformists and Nonconformists, can generate a variety of socially stable behavior patterns. In the path-dependence case, Conformists set the social custom and Nonconformists revolt against it; what action becomes the custom is determined by “history.” In the limit cycle case, Nonconformists become fashion leaders and switch their actions periodically, while Conformists follow with delay. The outcome depends on the relative share of Conformists to Nonconformists as well as their matching patterns.

This paper examines a two-country, monetary general-equilibrium model that includes a financial sector, capital mobility, and shocks to technologies and money-growth rates. Capital mobility allows agents in both countries to participate in rewards from relatively favorable shocks realized in either country. Currency exchange facilitates currency-intermediated international trade of consumption and capital goods. Qualitative and quantitative implications of the model for evolutions of variables are investigated. The quantitative analysis is performed by numerically solving and simulating the model. We focus on international monetary shock transmissions, and effects of monetary innovations on interest rates and nominal and real exchange rates.