Lifetime Cost of Living and Effective Prices: Theory and Evidence for Germany

Tödter Karl-Heinz () and Ziebarth Gerhard ()
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Tödter Karl-Heinz: Bundesbankdirektor (ret.), Deutsche Bundesbank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Ziebarth Gerhard: Bundesbankdirektor (ret.), Deutsche Bundesbank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), 2021, vol. 241, issue 1, 29-69

Abstract: We develop and analyze an intertemporal cost of living index (ICOLI), also referred to as lifetime cost of living or cost of life index. The ICOLI is a geometric weighted average of effective prices, derived from constrained consumer utility maximization. Effective prices are both, money valued marginal utilities of the final unit consumed, and present values of prices for future consumption. Using the concept of duration, we derive analytical elasticities of the ICOLI with respect to consumer prices and interest rates and show their impact on lifetime welfare of consumers. We also provide empirical evidence for Germany, compute an ex post time series of the ICOLI, and gauge the welfare effects of low interest rate scenarios. We find that the financial repression policy of the ECB since 2010 contributed to substantial losses in the purchasing power of money and led to lasting welfare losses for consumers in Germany, in particular for the cohorts of young consumers. The ICOLI complements conventional price and inflation statistics and could serve as a valuable information tool for monetary policy.

Keywords: intertemporal cost of living; cost of life; effective prices; purchasing power of money; empirical evidence for Germany; cohort-specific welfare losses; low interest rate scenarios (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D15 E21 E31 E58 I3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jns:jbstat:v:241:y:2021:i:1:p:29-69:n:1

DOI: 10.1515/jbnst-2019-0022

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