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The Phillips Multiplier

Author

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  • Régis Barnichon
  • Geert Mesters

Abstract

We propose a methodology for determining the inflation-unemployment trade-off faced by a central bank, i.e., the ability of a central bank to transform unemployment into inflation (and vice versa) via its interest rate policy. We introduce the Phillips multiplier as a statistic to non-parametrically characterize the trade-off and its dynamic nature. Inference on the Phillips multiplier is based on a simple instrumental variable regression of cumulative inflation on cumulative unemployment using monetary shocks as instruments and weak instrument robust methods. We compute the Phillips multiplier for the US and the UK and document that the trade-off went from being very large in the pre-1990 sample period to being small (but significant) post-1990. In contrast to earlier evidence of a substantial flattening of the slope of Phillips curve, we find that the decline in the trade-off is mostly due to the anchoring of inflation expectations.

Suggested Citation

  • Régis Barnichon & Geert Mesters, 2019. "The Phillips Multiplier," Working Papers 1070, Barcelona School of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:bge:wpaper:1070
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    marginal rate of transformation; inflation-unemployment trade-off; dynamic multiplier; Instrumental Variables; Phillips curve;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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