Inflation, Credit, and Indexed Unit of Account

A simple monetary model is constructed to study the implications of an indexed unit of account (Indexed-UoA). In an economy with an Indexed-UoA, credit trade friction attributed to inflation is resolved and there is no redistributional effect from unexpected inflation between debtors and creditors. However, in an economy without an Indexed-UoA, credit trades occur only if inflation is not too high and unexpected inflation renders debtors better off but creditors worse off. Adopting a medium of exchange as a unit of account is most apposite for a low-inflation economy, whereas introducing an alternative Indexed-UoA enhances welfare in an economy where inflation undermines credit trades.