The Determinants of U.S. Real Interest Rates in the Long Run

Author/Editor:

Sharmini Coorey

Publication Date:

December 1, 1991

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

This paper examines the factors which influence the behavior of real interest rates in the United States over the long run. Data on real and nominal returns to bonds and equities are tested for unit root non-stationarity. The results indicate that real and nominal interest rates and inflation are integrated of order one while the evidence on returns to equities is mixed. Short- and long-term real rates were found to be cointegrated with government deficits, government debt relative to GNP, private wealth, real balances relative to GNP, demographic factors and the marginal productivity of capital; demographic, fiscal, and monetary policy variables appear to be particularly significant.

Series:

Working Paper No. 1991/118

Subject:

Financial institutions Financial services Government debt management Inflation Prices Production Public financial management (PFM) Real interest rates Stocks Total factor productivity

English

Publication Date:

December 1, 1991

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451854053/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA1181991

Pages:

44

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