Distributional impact of monetary policy in the UK: from conventional to unconventional policy

Abstract

We evaluate the income distributional effect of monetary policy in the UK for the period 1993–2019 using a mixed frequency approach and a high-frequency identification. Our results indicate that expansionary monetary policy increased income inequality during the unconventional policy subperiod 2009–2019. Looking at the income brackets, we find that this increase in inequality is primarily due to the positive impact of expansionary policy on the upper share of income distribution. Our counterfactual analysis reveals that unconventional monetary policy contributed to the increase in inequality and that the response to COVID-19 is likely to do the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Economic Policy Reform is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder s express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)