This paper analyses the optimal degree of flexibility under a Lucas type convex Phillipscurve. As a benchmark, we first analyse optimal monetary policy with a linear Phillipscurve and persistent cost-push shocks. As in Svensson (1997a), a central banker who possesses private information and who inherits society's preferences will engage in too much output stabilisation because of which welfare will be improved by appointing an individual who is less flexible. Moreover, we are able to investigate the determinants of the optimal degree of flexibility. If the central banker has no private information under a linear Lucas type Phillipscurve, it will be optimal to abstain from output stabilisation entirely. Next, we extend the symmetric information case by assuming the Phillipscurve is convex. In this respect, it is shown that even under strict inflation targeting, the optimal conditional inflation forecast will be state-dependent. Furthermore, if the degree of flexibility is zero, monetary policy will be subject to a deflationary bias which will exceed the one obtained in a model where the expected slope of the Phillipscurve is constant. We also show that the long run average rate of inflation will be strictly increasing in the degree of flexibility. Therefore some degree of flexibility will be socially optimal in this model because it will render the deflationary bias obtained under strict inflation targeting less severe.
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Find related papers by JEL classification: 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
References listed on IDEAS 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.: