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Experimental Evidence on Inflation Expectation Formation

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Author Info
Pfajfar, D.
Zakelj, B. (Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research)

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Abstract

Using laboratory experiments, we establish a number of stylized facts about the process of inflation expectation formation. Within a New Keynesian sticky price framework, we ask subjects to provide forecasts of inflation and their corresponding confidence bounds. We study individual responses and properties of the aggregate empirical distribution. Many subjects do not rely on a single model of expectation formation, but are rather switching between di¤erent models. About 40% of the subjects predominately use a rational rule when forecasting inflation and about 35% of agents simply extrapolate trend. Around 5% of subjects behave in an adaptive manner, while the remaining 20% behaves in accordance to adaptive learning and sticky information models. Furthermore, we find that subjects in only 60% of cases correctly perceive the underlying uncertainty in the economy when reporting confidence intervals. However, empirical analysis does not support a significant countercyclical behavior of individuals' confidence intervals.

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Paper provided by Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research in its series Discussion Paper with number 2009-07.

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Date of creation: 2009
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Handle: RePEc:dgr:kubcen:200907

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation
C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General

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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Pfajfar, D. & Santoro, E., 2008. "Asymmetries in Inflation Expectation Formation Across Demographic Groups," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 0824, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge. [Downloadable!]
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