This paper presents a closed economy macroeconomic model in which the nominal income of some assets is taxed, whereas that of others is not. The short-run and long-run implications of a change in expected inflation are examined. An increase in the expected rate of inflation shifts the composition of aggregate demand, since asset holders shift their portfolios from the taxed asset (corporate capital) to the untaxed asset (consumer durables). In the long run, this shift implies a stock adjustment decline in capital with a consequent decrease in the rate of growth of productivity over the transition period.

The paper develops a general stochastic macroeconomic model that can be used to study the international transmission of disturbances under four alternative exchange-rate systems: uniform flexible exchange rates, uniform fixed exchange rates, and two versions of two-tier exchange rates. The analysis makes two general points. First, one cannot assume stability of structure when assessing the consequences of alternative exchange-rate regimes. For example, the slope of the aggregate supply curve and the rationally formed expectations in the asset markets can respond dramatically to the government's choice of exchange-rate regime. Second, exchange-rate regimes that provide full insulation from foreign disturbances may nevertheless be inferior to other regimes in terms of their ability to maximize social welfare.