In: Economics
Does unanticipated inflation hurt borrowers or lenders more? Explain why this is the case.
Lenders are hurt by unanticipated inflation. This happens because the money they loaned out Now has less purchasing power due to unanticipated inflation.
Suppose a lender gives a borrower $100 at 5 percent interest rate per annum and adds 2 percent for inflation.
Suppose there is No unanticipated change in inflation, the lender will get back $107.
If there is unanticipated inflation of 1 percent, now the value of the sum loaned out is $106 only. This means a faIl in profit for lenders.
Borrowers benefits from unanticipated inflation.