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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Interest rates changes and QE compared

Author

Term

4. term

Education

Publication year

2025

Pages

76

Abstract

This thesis examines whether unconventional monetary policy—especially quantitative easing (QE)—has effects comparable to conventional interest rate changes. The theoretical framing contrasts mainstream economics with Post-Keynesian endogenous money theory to clarify how money is created and transmitted through the economy. Empirically, the study employs econometric models (OLS and SVAR) to first map the relationship between interest rate changes and QE and the broad money supply (M2), and then leverage that relationship to assess impacts on key macroeconomic variables including output, inflation, construction, equity markets, long-term interest rates, and the exchange rate. The design includes establishing an equivalence between asset purchase programs and a given interest rate cut via their influence on M2, alongside diagnostic checks of model assumptions. According to the reported results, QE is significantly related to the broad money supply and has roughly comparable effects to conventional monetary policy on relevant economic factors. The thesis also discusses theoretical differences, limitations, and potential broader uses of unconventional tools, such as supporting green transitions and addressing distributional concerns.

Denne afhandling undersøger, om ukonventionelle pengepolitiske værktøjer – særligt kvantitative lempelser (QE) – har virkninger, der kan sammenlignes med konventionelle renteændringer. Teoretisk placeres analysen mellem den mainstream økonomiske tilgang og post-keynesiansk endogen pengeteori for at belyse, hvordan penge skabes og formidles gennem økonomien. Empirisk anvendes økonometriske modeller (OLS og SVAR) til først at kortlægge relationen mellem renteændringer og QE og den brede pengemængde (M2), og dernæst bruge denne relation til at vurdere effekterne på centrale makroøkonomiske variable som output, inflation, byggeri, aktiemarked, lange renter og valutakurs. Designet omfatter at etablere en ækvivalens mellem aktivkøbsprogrammer og en given rentenedsættelse via deres påvirkning af M2, med tilhørende diagnostiske tests for modelantagelser. Ifølge de rapporterede resultater har QE en signifikant sammenhæng med den brede pengemængde og udviser en omtrent sammenlignelig effekt som konventionel pengepolitik på relevante økonomiske faktorer. Afhandlingen diskuterer desuden forskelle i teorigrundlag, potentielle begrænsninger og mulige udvidede formål for ukonventionel politik, herunder grøn omstilling og fordelingsmæssige hensyn.

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