Newsletter Subscribe
Enter your email address below and subscribe to our newsletter
What is Built-In Inflation?
Built-in inflation refers to inflation that persists due to adaptive expectations, where past inflation influences future wage and price-setting behaviour.
Definition
Built-In Inflation is inflation driven by a feedback loop between wages and prices, in which workers demand higher wages to keep up with past inflation, and businesses raise prices to cover higher labour costs.
Key Takeaways
- Arises from expectations formed by past inflation.
- Reinforced through wage–price spirals.
- Persists even without new demand or supply shocks.
- Makes inflation harder to reduce once entrenched.
Understanding Built-In Inflation
Built-in inflation develops when households and firms expect inflation to continue based on historical experience. Workers seek wage increases to maintain purchasing power, while firms raise prices to offset higher wage costs.
This wage–price dynamic can sustain inflation even if demand conditions weaken or supply constraints ease. As expectations adjust slowly, inflation becomes embedded in contracts, pricing strategies, and economic planning.
Breaking built-in inflation often requires credible policy actions to reset expectations, such as sustained monetary tightening or institutional reforms.
Importance in Business or Economics
- Explains inflation persistence over time.
- Central to wage negotiations and long-term contracts.
- Influences inflation expectations and policy credibility.
- Complicates efforts to stabilise prices.
Types or Variations
- Wage–Price Spiral Inflation – Inflation driven by repeated wage and price adjustments.
- Expectation-Driven Inflation – Sustained by adaptive or backward-looking expectations.
- Contractual Inflation – Embedded in indexed wages or long-term agreements.
Related Terms
- Inflation Expectations
- Wage–Price Spiral
- Phillips Curve
- Monetary Policy
Sources and Further Reading
- Investopedia — Built-In Inflation
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) — Inflation Dynamics and Expectations
- Federal Reserve — Inflation Expectations and Policy
Quick Reference
- Inflation driven by expectations
- Reinforced through wages and prices
- Difficult to reverse quickly
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How is built-in inflation different from demand-pull inflation?
Built-in inflation is driven by expectations and wage–price dynamics, not excess demand.
Why is built-in inflation hard to control?
Because expectations adjust slowly and are embedded in economic behaviour.
Can built-in inflation be eliminated?
Yes, but it often requires sustained policy credibility and time.
