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Response to a defense of zero inflation

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  • S. Rao Aiyagari

Abstract

This essay distills the differences between zero inflation proponents and critics to three main questions: Can the central bank make a credible commitment to maintaining a stable price level? Should monetary policy be used to reduce the tax on capital income? And would reducing uncertainty about inflation produce significant social benefits? Proponents of zero inflation answer all three questions yes, while critics answer no. The essay reviews both answers for each question and suggests that the disagreements are at least partly due to inadequacies in economic models. The essay repeats the author's view, argued in an earlier study, that when other policy options are considered, the overall benefits of a zero inflation policy shrink close to zero, and may even become negative.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Rao Aiyagari, 1991. "Response to a defense of zero inflation," Quarterly Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, vol. 15(Spr), pages 21-24.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedmqr:y:1991:i:spr:p:21-24:n:v.15no.2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S. Rao Aiyagari, 1990. "Deflating the case for zero inflation," Quarterly Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, vol. 14(Sum), pages 2-11.
    2. Taylor, John B., 1981. "On the relation between the variability of inflation and the average inflation rate," Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 57-85, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Samantha Johnson, 1993. "The costs of inflation revisited," Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bulletin, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, vol. 56, March.

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