Explaining the Strength and Efficiency of Monetary Policy Transmission: A Panel of Impulse Responses from a Time-Varying Parameter Model

This paper analyzes both the cross-sectional and time variation in aggregate monetary policy transmission from nominal short-term interest rates to the price level. Using Bayesian TVP-VAR models where structural monetary policy shocks are identified by a mixture of short-term and sign restrictions, I show that monetary policy transmission has become stronger over the last few decades. This finding is robust across both developed and emerging economies. Monetary policy sacrifice ratios (the output costs of disinflation induced by monetary policy tightening) have decreased over the last four decades. Exploring the cross-country and time variation in monetary policy responses using panel regressions, I show that after a country adopted inflation targeting, monetary transmission became stronger and sacrifice ratios decreased. In periods of banking crises, the transmission from monetary policy interest rate shocks to prices is weaker and the related output costs are higher. Furthermore, countries with higher domestic private credit to GDP feature stronger transmission of interest rate shocks.