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Inflation Expectations in Costa Rica

Author

Listed:
  • Alonso Alfaro-Ureña

    (Economic Division, Central Bank of Costa Rica)

  • Carlos Monge-Badilla

    (Department of Economic Research, Central Bank of Costa Rica)

Abstract

The Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) is currently transitioning to an Inflation Targeting (IT) regime. In such context, it is relevant for the monetary authority to characterize in the most complete way possible the inflation expectations of the population, both in the particular elements of the forecasts and in the processes by which agents take information into account for their individual predictions. This paper documents the analysis of the inflation expectations data contained in the Monthly Survey of Inflation and Exchange Rate Expectations. We test several hypotheses such as rational and adaptive expectations. The results show significant biases in those expectations, while there is also a lack of learning from past errors by the agents surveyed. ***Resumen: Como parte del proceso de transición hacia un esquema de Metas de Inflación (MI), el Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) considera relevante caracterizar de la manera más completa posible las expectativas de inflación de la población, considerando tanto las particularidades de cada pronóstico que realizan como el proceso mediante el cual cada uno de los agentes incorpora la información disponible en la formulación de su expectativa individual sobre esta variable. El presente trabajo documenta el análisis de la información sobre expectativas de inflación contenida en la Encuesta Mensual de Expectativas de Inflación y de Variación del Tipo de Cambio. Se presentan diversas hipótesis sobre la formación de las expectativas, siendo las principales: expectativas racionales y expectativas adaptativas. Los resultados muestran sesgos importantes en las expectativas, así como una ausencia de aprendizaje respecto a los errores pasados por parte de los agentes consultados.

Suggested Citation

  • Alonso Alfaro-Ureña & Carlos Monge-Badilla, 2013. "Inflation Expectations in Costa Rica," Documentos de Trabajo 1301, Banco Central de Costa Rica.
    • Handle: RePEc:apk:doctra:1301
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    File URL: https://repositorioinvestigaciones.bccr.fi.cr/handle/20.500.12506/106
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • C82 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data; Data Access

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