Inflation effects on capital accumulation in a model with residential and non-residential assets

Abstract

We study aggregate effects on capital accumulation of changes in the permanent rate of inflation in a model that incorporates both residential and non-residential capital. The framework is a dynamic general equilibrium life-cycle economy populated by heterogeneous individuals with respect to age, income and homeownership status. Inflation raises the non-residential capital income tax burden, affects the user cost of housing capital and raises the opportunity cost of holding money. A numerical analysis is provided based on parameter values from the US economy. We find that housing capital and inflation exhibit a positive correlation while inflation reduces savings in business capital. It is shown that this outcome arises from the interaction of inflation with individual tenure decisions and a number of characteristics and tax provisions available in the housing market.