<p>In theory there is nothing that is preventing the real interest rate from becoming negative. Making the real interest rate negative by keeping the nominal rate at zero and creating inflation has been the goal of the ECB in the recent past. Once you hit the ZLB there is no other way to further loosen monetary policy. With regard to your work it is probably important to carefully select the inflation rate you're using, but you dont describe this in detail. Depending on your question you might want to consider forward looking measures (i.e.Blue Chip or Greenbook forecasts if you're talking about the US).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-25T16:49:37.317Z
Depreciation rate = depreciation/Gross Capital
london
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-21T14:21:59.147Z
I used CPI inflation, and the data is for the 1700-1914 period for Britain.
london
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-21T14:31:05.017Z
I see with that time span there arent many different series you can get. I think you should try to tag this question as [economic-history] and describe your data. Then you can hope to find someone to discuss the particular periods when you get negative real rates?
Grada Gukovic
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-21T16:35:19.237Z
I think I sorted the problem, but not sure if the results are convincing; I've reduced the volatility of CPI inflation rate by applying 20-year MAs.
london
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-22T12:26:30.683Z
You could think about your depreciation rate. We used to assume 5% when I did macro. When I think about it the real interest must be very negative with such depreciation before you obtain negative cost of capital. If dont you describe your data on inflation no-one cant give you advice on that.
Grada Gukovic
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-22T22:09:21.217Z
I calculated the depreciation rate using gross capital stock data for the same period. The average depeciation rate is just under 3%
london
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-23T13:20:59.137Z
Could you please tell me what method you used tocompute $\delta$? Just out of curiosity. I didnt now it was possible
Grada Gukovic
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-21T13:17:36.837Z
2019-07-21T13:17:36.837Z
Grada Gukovic
<p>Rental cost of capital (RC) is the cost of acquiring capital which a firm must bear .
It is the sum of rate of interest (r) and depreciation charges of the capital stock(d).
So, RC = r+d .</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-18T12:17:04.687Z
2024-05-18T12:17:04.687Z
Ayush Singh Jamwala
<p>I am estimating time series for rental price of capital using Hall-Jorgenson method: <span class="math-container">$$r=\frac{P_k}{P}(i-inf+\delta)$$</span>
here, <span class="math-container">$r$</span> is the rental cost of capital, <span class="math-container">$P_k$</span> is the price of capital goods (price index for capital goods), <span class="math-container">$P$</span> is a deflator, <span class="math-container">$i$</span> is nominal interest rate, <span class="math-container">$inf$</span> is an inflation rate and <span class="math-container">$\delta$</span> is depreciation rate of physical capital stock.</p>

<p>Because inflation rate is high in some periods, the rental cost of capital is negative for these periods; this does not make sense, any little help is welcome!</p>

<macroeconomics><investment><economic-history>
rental cost of capital
london
# rental cost of capital

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-19)

I am estimating time series for rental price of capital using Hall-Jorgenson method: $$r=\frac{P\_k}{P}(i-inf+\delta)$$
here, $r$ is the rental cost of capital, $P\_k$ is the price of capital goods (price index for capital goods), $P$ is a deflator, $i$ is nominal interest rate, $inf$ is an inflation rate and $\delta$ is depreciation rate of physical capital stock.

Because inflation rate is high in some periods, the rental cost of capital is negative for these periods; this does not make sense, any little help is welcome!

**Tags:** macroeconomics, investment, economic-history

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-07-21. Score: 1

In theory there is nothing that is preventing the real interest rate from becoming negative. Making the real interest rate negative by keeping the nominal rate at zero and creating inflation has been the goal of the ECB in the recent past. Once you hit the ZLB there is no other way to further loosen monetary policy. With regard to your work it is probably important to carefully select the inflation rate you're using, but you dont describe this in detail. Depending on your question you might want to consider forward looking measures (i.e.Blue Chip or Greenbook forecasts if you're talking about the US).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I used CPI inflation, and the data is for the 1700-1914 period for Britain.  
> **username_1**: I see with that time span there arent many different series you can get. I think you should try to tag this question as [economic-history] and describe your data. Then you can hope to find someone to discuss the particular periods when you get negative real rates?  
> **username_0**: I think I sorted the problem, but not sure if the results are convincing; I've reduced the volatility of CPI inflation rate by applying 20-year MAs.  
> **username_1**: You could think about your depreciation rate. We used to assume 5% when I did macro. When I think about it the real interest must be very negative with such depreciation before you obtain negative cost of capital. If dont you describe your data on inflation no-one cant give you advice on that.  
> **username_0**: I calculated the depreciation rate using gross capital stock data for the same period. The average depeciation rate is just under 3%  
> **username_1**: Could you please tell me what method you used tocompute $\delta$? Just out of curiosity. I didnt now it was possible  
> **username_0**: Depreciation rate = depreciation/Gross Capital  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2024-05-18. Score: 0

Rental cost of capital (RC) is the cost of acquiring capital which a firm must bear .
It is the sum of rate of interest (r) and depreciation charges of the capital stock(d).
So, RC = r+d .


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