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Priors and the Slope of the Phillips Curve

Author

Listed:
  • Callum Jones

    (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System)

  • Mariano Kulish

    (University of Sydney)

  • Juan Pablo Nicolini

    (Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis/Universidad Di Tella)

Abstract

The slope of the Phillips curve in New Keynesian models is difficult to estimate using aggregate data. We show that in a Bayesian estimation, the priors placed on the parametersgoverning nominal rigidities significantly influence posterior estimates and thus inferences about the importance of nominal rigidities. Conversely, we show that priors play a negligible role in a New Keynesian model estimated using state-level data. An estimation with state-level data exploits a relatively large panel dataset and removes the influence of endogenous monetary policy

Suggested Citation

  • Callum Jones & Mariano Kulish & Juan Pablo Nicolini, 2022. "Priors and the Slope of the Phillips Curve," Working Papers 165, Red Nacional de Investigadores en Economía (RedNIE).
    • Handle: RePEc:aoz:wpaper:165
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    File URL: https://rednie.eco.unc.edu.ar/files/DT/165.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ivana Komunjer & Serena Ng, 2011. "Dynamic Identification of Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Models," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 79(6), pages 1995-2032, November.
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    3. Michael McLeay & Silvana Tenreyro, 2020. "Optimal Inflation and the Identification of the Phillips Curve," NBER Macroeconomics Annual, University of Chicago Press, vol. 34(1), pages 199-255.
    4. Terry Fitzgerald & Callum Jones & Mariano Kulish & Juan Pablo Nicolini, 2024. "Is There a Stable Relationship between Unemployment and Future Inflation?," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 16(4), pages 114-142, October.
    5. Del Negro, Marco & Schorfheide, Frank, 2008. "Forming priors for DSGE models (and how it affects the assessment of nominal rigidities)," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(7), pages 1191-1208, October.
    6. Iskrev, Nikolay, 2010. "Local identification in DSGE models," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 189-202, March.
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    11. Callum Jones & Virgiliu Midrigan & Thomas Philippon, 2022. "Household Leverage and the Recession," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 90(5), pages 2471-2505, September.
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    2. Simon C. Smith & Allan Timmermann & Jonathan H. Wright, 2025. "Breaks in the Phillips Curve: Evidence From Panel Data," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 131-148, March.
    3. Jinting Guo, 2025. "On the Identification of Diagnostic Expectations: Econometric Insights from DSGE Models," Papers 2509.08472, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2025.

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    Keywords

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    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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