This paper points out and tests a straight forward but previously unnoticed prediction of models in which the absence of precommitment in monetary policy leads to excessive inflation. Because unanticipated monetary expansion leads to real exchange rate depreciation, and because the harms of real depreciation are greater in more open economies, the benefits of surprise expansion are decreasing in the degree of openness. Thus, under discretionary policy-making, money growth and inflation will be lower in more open economies. After presenting a simple theoretical model demonstrating this prediction of the theory, the paper examines the link between openness and inflation using cross-country data. The data reveal a strong negative link between openness and inflation.
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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number
3936.
Length: Date of creation: Dec 1991 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:3936
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Alberto Alesina, 1988.
"Macroeconomics and Politics,"
NBER Chapters,
in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 1988, Volume 3, pages 13-62
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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