Is Digitalization Driving Domestic Inflation?

By Mr.Balazs Csonto, Yuxuan Huang, Mr.Camilo E Tovar Mora

Is Digitalization Driving Domestic Inflation?
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This paper examines the extent to which digitalization—measured by a new proxy based on IP addresses allocations per country—has influenced inflation dynamics in a sample of 36 advanced and emerging economies over 2000-2017. Phillips curve estimates show that digitalization has a statistically significant negative effect on inflation in the short run. Its economic impact is not large but has increased since 2012 and mainly operates through a cost/competition channel. Principal components and cointegration analysis further suggest digitalization is a key driver of lower trend inflation.

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