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Inflation Targeting and Communication: It Pays Off to Read Inflation Reports

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  • Ms. Katerina Smídková
  • Viktor Kotlán
  • David Navrátil
  • Mr. Ales Bulir

Abstract

Inflation-targeting central banks have a respectable track record at explaining their policy actions and corresponding inflation outturns. Using a simple forward-looking policy rule and an assessment of inflation reports, we provide a new methodology for the empirical evaluation of consistency in central bank communication. We find that the three communication tools-inflation targets, inflation forecasts, and verbal assessments of inflation factors contained in quarterly inflation reports-provided a consistent message in five out of six observations in our 2000-05 sample of Chile, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Thailand, and Sweden.

Suggested Citation

  • Ms. Katerina Smídková & Viktor Kotlán & David Navrátil & Mr. Ales Bulir, 2008. "Inflation Targeting and Communication: It Pays Off to Read Inflation Reports," IMF Working Papers 2008/234, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2008/234
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Camilo Anzoátegui Zapata & Juan Camilo Galvis, 2019. "Efectos de la comunicación del banco central sobre los títulos públicos: evidencia empírica para Colombia," Revista Cuadernos de Economia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, FCE, CID, vol. 38(77), pages 337-364, July.
    2. Mr. Ales Bulir & Mr. David-Jan Jansen & Mr. Martin Cihak, 2012. "Clarity of Central Bank Communication About Inflation," IMF Working Papers 2012/009, International Monetary Fund.
    3. Bulíř Aleš & Čihák Martin & Šmídkova Kateřina Š, 2013. "Writing Clearly: The ECB’s Monetary Policy Communication," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 14(1), pages 50-72, February.
    4. Ales Bulír & Martin Cihák & David-Jan Jansen, 2011. "Clarity of Central Bank Communication About Inflation," DNB Working Papers 333, Netherlands Central Bank, Research Department.
    5. Aliyu, Shehu Usman Rano & Englama, Abwaku, 2009. "Is Nigeria Ready for Inflation Targeting?," MPRA Paper 14870, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 26 Apr 2009.
    6. Herro, Nicholas & Murray, James, 2011. "Dynamics of Monetary Policy Uncertainty and the Impact on the Macroeconomy," MPRA Paper 30387, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Nicholas Herro & James Murray, 2013. "Dynamics of Monetary Policy Uncertainty and the Impact on the Macroeconomy," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 33(1), pages 257-270.
    8. Juraj Antal & Michal Hlaváèek & Tomáš Holub, 2008. "Inflation Target Fulfillment in the Czech Republic in 1998–2007: Some Stylized Facts," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 58(09-10), pages 406-424, December.

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