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Optimal Monetary Policy in a Liquidity Trap

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  • Gauti B. Eggertsson
  • Michael Woodford

Abstract

We consider the consequences for monetary policy of the zero floor for nominal interest rates. The zero bound can be a significant constraint on the ability of a central bank to combat deflation. We show, in the context of an intertemporal equilibrium model, that open-market operations, even of unconventional' types, are ineffective if they do not change expectations about the future conduct of policy; in this sense, a liquidity trap' is possible. Nonetheless, a credible commitment to the right sort of history-dependent policy can largely mitigate the distortions created by the zero bound. In our model, optimal policy involves a commitment to adjust interest rates so as to achieve a time-varying price-level target, when this is consistent with the zero bound. We also discuss ways in which other central-bank actions, while irrelevant apart from their effects on expectations, may help to make credible a central bank's commitment to its target, and consider implications for the policy options currently available for overcoming deflation in Japan.

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Paper provided by National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc in its series NBER Working Papers with number 9968.

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Date of creation: Sep 2003
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Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:9968

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  1. Going beyond Quantitative Easing
    by Mainly Macro in Mainly Macro on 2012-02-26 08:58:00
  2. Bean on Nominal GDP targets
    by Mainly Macro in Mainly Macro on 2013-03-01 00:33:00
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