This paper examines the implications of the expectations theory of the term structure for the implementation of inflation targeting. We show that the term structure weakens the transmission of short term interest rates to ultimate policy objectives. Therefore, short term interest rates in the central bank's forward looking monetary policy rule need to respond more strongly to the output gap and deviations of inflation from its target. Thus, in general the term structure implies a higher degree of policy activism. Next, we show that both the sensitivity of the term spread to economic fundamentals, and the extent to which the spread predicts future output, are increasing in the duration of the long bond and the degree of structural output persistence. If the central bank becomes relatively less concerned about inflation stabilisation the term spread becomes less sensitive to fundamentals, and the spread will be less successful in predicting real economic activity.
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Paper provided by Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research in its series Discussion Paper with number
85.
Find related papers by JEL classification: E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Determination of Interest Rates; Term Structure of Interest Rates E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
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John Driffill & Zeno Rotondi, 2007.
"Inertia in Taylor Rules,"
WEF Working Papers
0032, ESRC World Economy and Finance Research Programme, Birkbeck, University of London.
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Tesfaselassie, M.F. & Schaling, E. & Eijffinger, S.C.W., 2006.
"Learning About the Term Structure and Optimal Rules for Inflation Targeting,"
Research Paper
ERS-2006-058-F&A Revision, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus Uni.
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