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In old Chicago: Simons, Friedman and the development of monetary-policy rules

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  • George S. Tavlas

    (Bank of Greece)

Abstract

This paper examines the different policy rules proposed by Henry Simons, who, beginning in the mid-1930s, advocated a price-level stabilization rule, and by Milton Friedman, who, beginning in the late-1950s, advocated a rule that targeted a constant growth rate of the money supply. Although both rules shared the objective of eliminating the policy uncertainty emanating from discretion, they differed because of the different views of Simons and Friedman about the stability of secular relationships. Simons' rule relates to modern rules which emphasize the pursuit of price stability as representing optimal monetary policy.

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  • George S. Tavlas, 2014. "In old Chicago: Simons, Friedman and the development of monetary-policy rules," Working Papers 177, Bank of Greece.
    • Handle: RePEc:bog:wpaper:177
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    5. Demeulemeester, Samuel, 2024. "Investigating the “Debt-Money-Prices” Triangle: Irving Fisher’s Theoretical Journey Toward the 100% Money Proposal," SocArXiv tfm6v, Center for Open Science.
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    7. Soldatos, Gerasimos T., 2016. "A Short “Second Best” Narrative of the Ukrainian Economy/ Una Breve “Segunda Mejor Opción” de Narrativa de la Economía Ucraniana," MPRA Paper 81714, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Dec 2016.
    8. Donato Masciandaro, 2021. "Central Bank Governance in Monetary Policy Economics (1981-2020)," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 21153, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    9. Liutang Gong & Chan Wang & Heng-fu Zou, 2017. "Optimal Exchange-Rate Policy in a Model of Local-Currency Pricing with Vertical Production and Trade," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 125-147, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Milton Friedman; Henry Simons; monetary-policy rules;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B22 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Macroeconomics
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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