Non-linearities, state-dependent prices and the transmission mechanism of monetary policy

A sticky price theory of the transmission mechanism of monetary policy shocks based on state-dependent pricing yields two testable implications, that do not hold in time-dependent models. First, large monetary policy shocks should yield proportionally larger initial responses of the price level. Second, in a high trend inflation regime, the response of the price level to monetary policy shocks should be larger and real effects smaller. Our analysis provides evidence supporting these non-linear effects in the response of the price level in aggregate US data, indicating state-dependent pricing as an important feature of the transmission mechanism of monetary policy.