How does inflation determine inflation uncertainty? A Chinese perspective

Using a bootstrap Granger full-sample causality test and a sub-sample rolling window estimation, this paper examines the causal link between inflation and inflation uncertainty in China. The results show that high inflation leads to high inflation uncertainty, supporting Friedman-Ball’s hypothesis (1992) and Holland’s theory (J Money Credit Bank 27:827–837, 1995). Furthermore, significant feedback exists from inflation uncertainty to inflation in some periods, supporting Holland’s theory (J Money Credit Bank 27:827–837, 1995) that inflation uncertainty has a negative effect on inflation. We find that the relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty varies across time. The Chinese monetary authority needs to ensure a quick and effective policy response to inflation development because doing so will help reduce inflation, eliminate many of the costs associated with high inflation and therefore minimize the marginal effect of inflation on inflation uncertainty. However, quantitative tools for China’s monetary policy are also warranted. In the long term, the importance of keeping inflation low, stable, and predictable cannot be overemphasized.