The effect is mainly on people. For example in a period of deflation your pay should go down in order to remain at the same purchasing power. Can you imagine

The effect is mainly on people. For example in a period of deflation your pay should go down in order to remain at the same purchasing power. Can you imagine how people behave when told they are really getting a pay increase when their pay goes down by 2% and deflation is 4%? Inflation means prices/wages automatically go down when no numerical change is made. This keeps people happier. Consequently inflation is preferable out of the two, but a small number close to zero and stable over many years is the most preferable.