A Simple Model of Recurrent Hyperinflation

Jesús Vázquez, Universidad del País Vasco

Abstract

The model developed in this paper builds on Cagan's demand for money by considering that a share of government expenditure is spent on servicing foreign debt obligations and fixed in foreign currency. Given this fiscal policy the choice of the depreciation rate implies a passive money supply rule. We show in this model that two types of high-inflation path exist. One type is driven by crawling peg rules of the official exchange rate and is characterized by the saddle-stable path dynamics. The other type characterizes hyperinflationary dynamics. This latter type is a consequence of the global dynamics of the model. The existence of these two types of path can generate recurrent hyperinflation. Moreover, hyperinflation can arise independently of government spending.