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A proposal to clarify the objectives and strategy of monetary policy

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  • Hetzel, Robert L.

Abstract

Academic economists have perennially made arguments for the conduct of monetary policy constrained by an explicit rule. These arguments have gone nowhere. This paper advances a proposal to clarify Fed objectives and strategy in order to facilitate discussion leading to consensus over a desirable rule. The essence of the proposal is to replace the forecasts of the individual participants at FOMC meetings now contained in the Summary of Economic Projections with a consensus FOMC forecast accompanied by commentary on the strategy for monetary policy underlying the forecast.

Suggested Citation

  • Hetzel, Robert L., 2017. "A proposal to clarify the objectives and strategy of monetary policy," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 54(PA), pages 72-89.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jmacro:v:54:y:2017:i:pa:p:72-89
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmacro.2017.03.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Svensson, Lars E. O., 1997. "Inflation forecast targeting: Implementing and monitoring inflation targets," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 1111-1146, June.
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    3. Hetzel,Robert L., 2008. "The Monetary Policy of the Federal Reserve," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521881326.
    4. Robert L. Hetzel, 2016. "What Caused the Great Recession in the Eurozone?," Working Paper 16-10, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
    5. Roberto Motto & Massimo Rostagno & Lawrence J. Christiano, 2010. "Financial Factors in Economic Fluctuations," 2010 Meeting Papers 141, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    6. Francois R. Velde, 2004. "Poor hand or poor play? the rise and fall of inflation in the U.S," Economic Perspectives, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, vol. 28(Q I), pages 34-51.
    7. Marvin Goodfriend & Robert G. King, 1997. "The New Neoclassical Synthesis and the Role of Monetary Policy," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 1997, Volume 12, pages 231-296, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Aoki, Kosuke, 2001. "Optimal monetary policy responses to relative-price changes," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 55-80, August.
    9. Taylor, John B., 1993. "Discretion versus policy rules in practice," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 195-214, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Loretta J. Mester, 2025. "Considerations for the Federal Reserve’s upcoming framework review," Business Economics, Palgrave Macmillan;National Association for Business Economics, vol. 60(1), pages 15-20, January.

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    More about this item

    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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