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Inflation Target and Anchor of Inflation Forecasts in Japan

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  • Shin-ichi Fukuda

    (Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo)

  • Naoto Soma

    (Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo)

Abstract

In literature, a number of studies argued that an explicit inflation targeting regime provides less uncertainty about future inflation rates through anchoring expectations. However, it is far from clear whether the argument still holds true when the central bank faces a serious difficulty in achieving the target. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is a central bank that has adopted an explicit inflation target but faced a serious difficulty in achieving it. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether the explicit inflation targeting regime could anchor inflation expectations in Japan. In the analysis, we estimate panel Phillips curves by using Japanese forecaster-level data of “ESP Forecast†. We find significant structural changes in how to form inflation expectations. Before the BOJ announced the 2% inflation target, the estimated anchor of inflation expectations was negative. The new target increased the estimated anchor to significant positive values. This suggests that the BOJ’s explicit inflation target could partly anchor inflation expectations. However, the estimated anchor has never reached the target. More importantly it started to decline when it turned out that the 2% target would not be feasible in the short-run. This implies that an explicit inflation targeting needs to be a feasible one to anchor inflation expectations persistently.

Suggested Citation

  • Shin-ichi Fukuda & Naoto Soma, 2019. "Inflation Target and Anchor of Inflation Forecasts in Japan," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1108, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
  • Handle: RePEc:tky:fseres:2019cf1108
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. López-Villavicencio, Antonia & Pourroy, Marc, 2019. "Does inflation targeting always matter for the ERPT? A robust approach," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 360-377.
    3. Shin-ichi Fukuda & Naoto Soma, 2021. "Evaluation of Japan’s Macro-Fiscal Policy and its Challenges," Public Policy Review, Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Finance Japan, vol. 17(2), pages 1-28, November.
    4. komaki, Yasuyuki, 2023. "Why is the forecast error of quarterly GDP in Japan so large? – From an international comparison of quarterly GDP forecast situation," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    5. Takatoshi Ito, 2021. "An Assessment of Abenomics: Evolution and Achievements," Asian Economic Policy Review, Japan Center for Economic Research, vol. 16(2), pages 190-219, July.
    6. Dejan Zivkov & Marina Gajic-Glamoclija & Jelena Kovacevic & Sanja Loncar, 2020. "Inflation Uncertainty and Output Growth - Evidence from the Asia-Pacific Countries Based on the Multiscale Bayesian Quantile Inference," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 70(5), pages 461-486, November.
    7. James Yetman, 2020. "Pass-through from short-horizon to long-horizon inflation expectations, and the anchoring of inflation expectations," BIS Working Papers 895, Bank for International Settlements.
    8. Oleg S. Sukharev, 2020. "Inflation control and adequacy of targeting to economic growth policy," Upravlenets, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 11(1), pages 33-44, March.
    9. Pierre L. Siklos, 2020. "Looking into the Rear-View Mirror: Lessons from Japan for the Eurozone and the U.S?," IMES Discussion Paper Series 20-E-02, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan.
    10. Shin‐ichi Fukuda, 2021. "Comment on “Assessment of Abenomics: Evolution and Achievement”," Asian Economic Policy Review, Japan Center for Economic Research, vol. 16(2), pages 222-223, July.
    11. Antonia Lopez Villavicencio & Marc Pourroy, 2019. "Does Inflation Targeting Always Matter for the ERPT? A robust approach," Working Papers hal-02082568, HAL.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications

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