Inflation and Relative Price Dispersion: Evidence for Iran

The recent literature on the welfare cost of inflation emphasizes inflation s effects on the dispersion of relative prices. This paper tests three models that predict a relationship between the Relative Price Dispersion (RPD) and facets of inflation such as expected inflation, unexpected inflation, and inflation uncertainty. These are, correspondingly, the Sheshinski- Weiss menu cost model, the Lucas-Barro signal-extraction model, and the Hercowitz-Cukierman extension of the signal extraction model. The results verify the signal extraction model and its extension in Iran. However, there is no evidence of menu cost model