Heterogeneous Expectations, Optimal Monetary Policy, and the Merit of Policy Inertia

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking
Year: 2014
Volume: 46
Issue: 7
Pages: 1535-1554

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

The design and analysis of optimal monetary policy is usually guided by the paradigm of homogeneous rational expectations. Instead, we examine the dynamic consequences of design and implementation strategies, when the actual economy features expectational heterogeneity. Agents have either rational or adaptive expectations. Consequently, the central bank's ability to achieve price stability under heterogeneous expectations depends on its objective and implementation strategy. An expectations‐based reaction function, which appropriately conditions on private sector expectations, performs exceptionally well. However, once the objective introduces policy inertia, popular strategies have similar determinacy properties, but they are less operational. This finding calls for new implementation strategies under interest rate stabilization.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:wly:jmoncb:v:46:y:2014:i:7:p:1535-1554
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25