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An Empirical Analysis of Inflation in OECD Countries

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  • Jane Ihrig
  • Jaime Marquez

Abstract

During the 1990s, many OECD countries had declining rates of inflation while their unemployment rates were also falling, something that on the surface seemed at odds with the Phillips curve relationship between inflation and unemployment. For the USA, these seemingly contradictory developments have been reconciled in terms of two factors: (1) an acceleration in productivity and (2) structural changes in labour markets that lowered the natural unemployment rate (NAIRU). Here we ask whether comparable forces were at work in 19 other industrial countries. We find that productivity advancements were the main structural factor reducing inflation only in the USA. In other industrial countries, persistent labour‐market slack was the main factor exerting downward pressure on inflation. This persistence stemmed, in part, from structural reforms that lowered the NAIRU while the unemployment rate was declining. Ireland, New Zealand and Norway were three countries where labour‐market reforms helped to push inflation down dramatically.

Suggested Citation

  • Jane Ihrig & Jaime Marquez, 2004. "An Empirical Analysis of Inflation in OECD Countries," International Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(1), pages 61-84, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intfin:v:7:y:2004:i:1:p:61-84
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1367-0271.2004.00129.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:got:cegedp:73 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Marika Karanassou & Hector Sala, 2012. "Productivity Growth And The Phillips Curve: A Reassessment Of The Us Experience," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(3), pages 344-366, July.
    3. Meijers, Huub, 2006. "Diffusion of the Internet and low inflation in the information economy," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Hamid Elyassi, 2021. "Economics of the Financial Crisis: Any Lessons for the Pandemic Downturn and Beyond?," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 15(1), February.

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