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Perils of unconventional monetary policy

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  • McMahon, Michael
  • Peiris, M. Udara
  • Polemarchakis, Herakles

Abstract

Unconventional monetary policy, by relaxing restrictions on the composition of the balance sheet of the central bank, compromises control over the stochastic path of inflation; or, in open economies, over the stochastic path of exchange rates. If the composition of the balance sheet is unrestricted then the path of inflation is indeterminate. This is the case under pure quantitative easing, where the target is the size of real money balances. In contrast, credit easing policies restrict the composition of the portfolio by targeting a specific expansion in the maturity profile of bonds bought, and thus can implement a determinate path of inflation. The composition of the portfolios traded by monetary-fiscal authorities also determines premia in asset and currency markets.

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  • McMahon, Michael & Peiris, M. Udara & Polemarchakis, Herakles, 2018. "Perils of unconventional monetary policy," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 92-114.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:93:y:2018:i:c:p:92-114
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2018.01.036
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    2. Wang, Xuan, 2023. "A macro-financial perspective to analyse maturity mismatch and default," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Shahriyar Aliyev & Evžen Kočenda, 2023. "ECB monetary policy and commodity prices," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 274-304, February.
    4. Goodhart, Charles A.E. & Tsomocos, Dimitrios P. & Wang, Xuan, 2023. "Bank credit, inflation, and default risks over an infinite horizon," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    5. Nikolaos Romanidis & Dimitrios P. Tsomocos, 2022. "Default and determinacy under quantitative easing," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 74(1), pages 95-111, July.
    6. Xuan Wang, 2021. "Bankruptcy Codes and Risk Sharing of Currency Unions," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 21-009/IV, Tinbergen Institute.
    7. Xuan Wang, 2020. "A Macro-Financial Perspective to Analyse Maturity Mismatch and Default," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 20-064/IV, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unconventional monetary policy; Stochastic path of inflation;

    JEL classification:

    • D50 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - General
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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