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Rethinking the Power of Forward Guidance: Lessons from Japan Keynote Speech by Mark Gertler

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  • Mark Gertler

    (Henry and Lucy Moses Professor of Economics, New York University and National Bureau of Economic Research (E-mail: mark.gertler@nyu.edu))

Abstract

In the spring of 2013 the Bank of Japan introduced a state-of- the-art monetary policy which included among other things inflation targeting and aggressive use of forward guidance. In contrast to the predictions of conventional macroeconomic theory, these policies have had only very limited success in reflating the economy. I argue that the disconnect between the Japanese experience and existing theory can be traced to the forward guidance puzzle (FGP). As recent literature suggests, the essence of the FGP is that existing models predict implausibly strong effects of expected future interest rate changes on the economy, with the strength of the effect increasing with the expected horizon of the interest rate change. Accordingly, in this lecture I sketch a model meant to capture the challenge of reflation in Japan. As in recent literature I attempt to mute the power of forward guidance by stepping outside of rational expectations. In particular, I introduce a hybrid adaptive/rational expectations belief mechanism. Most relevant to the Japanese experience is that individuals have adaptive expectations about trend inflation, which is consistent with the evidence. As Kuroda ( 2016) emphasizes, for an economy without a history of inflation being anchored by a target, individuals need direct evidence that the central bank is capable of moving inflation to target.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Gertler, 2017. "Rethinking the Power of Forward Guidance: Lessons from Japan Keynote Speech by Mark Gertler," Monetary and Economic Studies, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan, vol. 35, pages 39-58, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:ime:imemes:v:35:y:2017:p:39-58
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Pablo Cuba-Borda & Sanjay R. Singh, 2024. "Understanding Persistent ZLB: Theory and Assessment," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 16(3), pages 389-416, July.
    2. Lucio Gobbi & Ronny Mazzocchi & Roberto Tamborini, 2022. "Monetary policy, rational confidence, and Neo‐Fisherian depressions," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(4), pages 1179-1199, November.
    3. Agustín Arias & Benjamín García & Ignacio Rojas, 2023. "Forward Guidance: Estimating a Behavioral DSGE Model with System Priors," Working Papers Central Bank of Chile 994, Central Bank of Chile.
    4. Sui-Jade Ho & Oezer Karagedikli, 2021. "Effects of Monetary Policy Communication in Emerging Market Economies: Evidence from Malaysia," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202126, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    5. Christian Pfister & Jean-Guillaume Sahuc, 2020. "Unconventional monetary policies: A stock-taking exercise," Revue d'économie politique, Dalloz, vol. 130(2), pages 137-169.
    6. Gunda‐Alexandra Detmers & Ozer Karagedikli & Richhild Moessner, 2021. "Quantitative or Qualitative Forward Guidance: Does it Matter?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 97(319), pages 491-503, December.
    7. Barbosa, Fernando de Holanda, 2018. "Is the new keynesian is curve forward looking?," FGV EPGE Economics Working Papers (Ensaios Economicos da EPGE) 797, EPGE Brazilian School of Economics and Finance - FGV EPGE (Brazil).
    8. Beqiraj, Elton & Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni & Di Pietro, Marco, 2019. "Beliefs formation and the puzzle of forward guidance power," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 20-32.
    9. Müller, Tobias & Christoffel, Kai & Mazelis, Falk & Montes-Galdón, Carlos, 2022. "Disciplining expectations and the forward guidance puzzle," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    10. Ko Nakayama & Shigenori Shiratsuka, 2017. "Monetary Policy: Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead Summary of the 2017 BOJ-IMES Conference Organized by the Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies of the Bank of Japan," Monetary and Economic Studies, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan, vol. 35, pages 1-16, November.
    11. Coenen, Günter & Montes-Galdón, Carlos & Saint Guilhem, Arthur & Hutchinson, John & Motto, Roberto, 2022. "Rate forward guidance in an environment of large central bank balance sheets: a Eurosystem stock-taking assessment," Occasional Paper Series 290, European Central Bank.
    12. Pablo Aguilar & Luca Pensieroso, 2022. "Learning the Hard Way: Expectations and the U.S. Great Depression," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2022004, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    13. Guo, Yumei & He, Shan, 2020. "Does confidence matter for economic growth? An analysis from the perspective of policy effectiveness," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 1-19.
    14. Domenico Lombardi & Pierre Siklos & Samantha St. Amand, 2018. "A Survey Of The International Evidence And Lessons Learned About Unconventional Monetary Policies: Is A ‘New Normal’ In Our Future?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(5), pages 1229-1256, December.
    15. Carl E. Walsh, 2019. "Alternatives to Inflation Targeting in Low Interest Rate Environments," IMES Discussion Paper Series 19-E-13, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan.
    16. Nicolas Caramp & Dejanir Silva, 2019. "Fiscal Origins of Monetary Paradoxes," 2019 Meeting Papers 1281, Society for Economic Dynamics.

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