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Should inflation targeting be abandoned in favour of nominal income targeting?

Author

Listed:
  • Stan du Plessis

    (Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch)

  • Malan Rietveld

    (Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch)

Abstract

In the wake of the international financial crisis nominal income targeting has received renewed attention from a number of leading macroeconomists as alternative to inflation targeting. The case for nominal income targeting has been built on both positive and negative arguments. The negative case relates to perceived inadequacies of inflation targeting, including: the presumed lack of robustness of inflation targeting to aggregate supply shocks, inadequate concern with financial stability, as well as concerns with the accountability of inflation targeting central banks. The positive case for nominal income targeting is that it will better suit current macroeconomic circumstances and policy needs, without sacrificing the gains made by inflation targeting. A thorough evaluation of these arguments is presented in this paper with the conclusion that the case for nominal income targeting is weak compared with the way in which inflation targeting has been implemented internationally.

Suggested Citation

  • Stan du Plessis & Malan Rietveld, 2013. "Should inflation targeting be abandoned in favour of nominal income targeting?," Working Papers 12/2013, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:sza:wpaper:wpapers188
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    File URL: https://www.ekon.sun.ac.za/wpapers/2013/wp122013/wp-12-2013.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Nominal income target; inflation target; monetary policy;
    All these keywords.

    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

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