We construct a model with private information in which consumers write dyna
mic contracts with financial intermediaries. A role for money arises due to
random limited participation of consumers in the financial market. Without
defection constraints, a Friedman rule is optimal, the mean and variabilit
y of wealth tend to fall with inflation in the steady state, and the welfar
e effects of inflation are very small. With defection constraints, the effe
cts of inflation on the distribution of welfare and consumption are large,
but the effect on average welfare is still small. The relaxation of defecti
on constraints resulting from higher inflation can cause a substantial incr
ease in the real interest rate. Journal of Economic Literature Classificati
on Numbers: D8, E4, G2. (C) 2000 Academic Press.