The effects of monetary policy shocks: Evidence from the flow of funds

This paper assesses the impact of a monetary policy shock on the U.S. economy. Our measures of contractionary monetary policy shocks are associated with (i) a fall in various monetary aggregates and a rise in the federal funds rate, (ii) declines in different measures of real activity, (iii) sharp declines in commodity prices and a delayed decline in the GDP price deflator. In addition, net funds raised by the business sector increases for roughly a year, after which it falls. Finally, we find that households do not adjust their financial assets and liabilities for several quarters after a monetary shock.