Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/77593 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 44
Publisher: 
University of Zurich, Department of Economics, Zurich
Abstract: 
We introduce a model of the economy as a social network. Two agents are linked to the extent that they transact with each other. This generates well-defined topological notions of location, neighborhood and closeness. We investigate the implications of our model for monetary economics. When a central bank increases the money supply, it must inject the money somewhere in the economy. We demonstrate that the agent closest to the location where money is injected is better off, and the one furthest is worse off. This redistribution channel is independent from the ones previously noted in the literature. Symmetrically, any decrease in the money supply redistributes purchasing power in the other direction. We also outline the testable implications of our model.
Subjects: 
money
redistribution
policy
central bank
social network
topology
JEL: 
E40
E50
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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