This paper offers a methodological contribution to monetary theory. First, it presents a model economy with cash-in-advance constraints, following the work of Lucas in the early 80’s; then, it specializes the model to preferences and shocks assumed in the Lagos and Wright (2005) framework....

We construct a tractable model of divisible money and equilibrium heterogeneity in money balances and prices. We do so by considering randomized monetary trades in a standard search-theoretic model of money where agents can hold multiple units of indivisible 'tokens'. By studying a simple...

In this preliminary version we consider different types of ex-ante heterogeneity (production cost, preferences, market access, etc.) in a Lagos-Wright (2003) framework. Such heterogeneity generates equilibrium inequality in nominal wealth, or money holdings. We have two basic objectives. First,...

We use a modified version of the Lagos-Wright model to introduce an essential role for banks. Due to preference shocks, agents have excess demand for or supply of money balances. Banks arise to reallocate excess cash by taking deposits from sellers and making loans to buyers. We consider two...

In many situations, some people hold large money balances but have no particular urgency to spend them while others are liquidity constrained. This problem creates a role for financial intermediaries who accept nominal deposits and make nominal loans. We show that financial intermediation...

The authors study how two fiat monies, one safe and one risky, compete in a decentralized trading environment. The equilibrium value of the two currencies, their transaction velocities and agents' spending patterns are endogenously determined. The authors derive conditions under which agents...

We construct a monetary economy with heterogeneity in discounting and consumption risk. Agents can insure against this risk with both money and nominal government bonds, but all trades must be monetized. We demonstrate that a deflationary policy a la Friedman cannot sustain the efficient...

We study an infinite-horizon economy with two basic frictions that are typical in monetary models. First, agents’ trading paths cross at most once due to pairwise trade and other meeting obstacles. Second, actions must be compatible with individual incentives due to commitment and enforcement...