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Nominal GDP targeting: Policy rule or discretionary splurge?

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  • McCallum, Bennett T.

Abstract

In a neo-canonical monetary policy model, targeting of nominal GDP in terms of growth rates (not growing levels) is analytically equivalent to adoption of a policy that is optimal from a “timeless perspective,” in the sense developed by Woodford and widely utilized in recent monetary policy analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • McCallum, Bennett T., 2015. "Nominal GDP targeting: Policy rule or discretionary splurge?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 76-80.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finsta:v:17:y:2015:i:c:p:76-80
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfs.2014.12.004
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    1. Mccallum, Bennet T., 1988. "Robustness properties of a rule for monetary policy," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 173-203, January.
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    7. Cochrane, John H., 2009. "Can learnability save new-Keynesian models?," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(8), pages 1109-1113, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gerald P. O'Driscoll Jr., 2016. "Monetary Policy and the Knowledge Problem," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 36(2), pages 337-352, Spring/Su.
    2. Benchimol, Jonathan, 2024. "Central bank objectives, monetary policy rules, and limited information," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 80, pages 1-37.
    3. Joshua Hendrickson, 2025. "The case for nominal GDP level targeting," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 91(4), pages 1404-1419, April.
    4. Christophe Blot & Jérôme Creel & Xavier Ragot, 2015. "Flexible inflation targeting vs nominal GDP targeting in the euro area," Working Papers hal-03429880, HAL.
    5. Jonathan Benchimol & André Fourçans, 2016. "Nominal income versus Taylor-type rules in practice," Working Papers hal-01357870, HAL.
    6. Davide Debortoli & Ricardo Nunes, 2014. "Monetary Regime Switches and Central Bank Preferences," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(8), pages 1591-1626, December.
    7. Benchimol, Jonathan & Fourçans, André, 2019. "Central bank losses and monetary policy rules: A DSGE investigation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 289-303.
    8. Ortiz, Marco & Inca, Arthur & Solf, Fabrizio, 2024. "Welfare implications of nomimal GDP targeting in a small open economy," MPRA Paper 119999, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. repec:rza:wpaper:752 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Patrick Horan, 2025. "Milton Friedman and nominal income targeting," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 91(3), pages 988-1011, January.
    11. Christophe Blot & Jérôme Creel & Xavier Ragot, 2015. "Flexible inflation targeting vs nominal GDP targeting in the euro area," Sciences Po publications info:hdl:2441/5nf0balck39, Sciences Po.
    12. Ryan H. Murphy & Jiawen Chen, 2017. "A simple empirical investigation into the optimal size of the NGDP Target and Level targeting," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 41(2), pages 354-369, April.
    13. Jonathan Benchimol & André Fourçans, 2017. "Monetary Rule, Central Bank Loss and Household’s Welfare: an Empirical Investigation," Globalization Institute Working Papers 329, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

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