Menu costs and asymmetric price adjustment

Tore Ellingsen et al.

International Journal of Industrial Organization2026https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijindorg.2026.103259article
AJG 3ABDC A*
Weight
0.48

Abstract

We study optimal price setting by a monopolist in an infinite horizon model with stochastic costs, moderate inflation, and costly price adjustment. For realistic parameters, chosen to replicate observed frequencies of price changes, the model fits numerically several empirical regularities. In particular, price reductions are larger but less frequent than price increases, and prices respond considerably faster to cost increases than to cost decreases. The associated kink in the steady state short-run Phillips curve implies that the output loss associated with a small negative in‡ation surprise is about twice as large as the output gain associated with a small positive inflation surprise.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijindorg.2026.103259

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@article{tore2026,
  title        = {{Menu costs and asymmetric price adjustment}},
  author       = {Tore Ellingsen et al.},
  journal      = {International Journal of Industrial Organization},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijindorg.2026.103259},
}

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Menu costs and asymmetric price adjustment

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Evidence weight

0.48

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.44 × 0.4 = 0.18
M · momentum0.53 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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