The Impact of Inflation on the Aggregate Debt-Asset Ratio

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that, contrary to the results of previous studies, the impact of inflation on the aggregate debt-asset ratio cannot be determined theoretically. However, it is shown that inflation is likely to increase this ratio when personal income tax schedules are indexed to the price level and/or when leverage-related costs are relatively high and the personal tax rate on income from holding common stocks is relatively low.