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The advantage of transparent instruments of monetary policy

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  • Andrew Atkeson
  • Patrick J. Kehoe

Abstract

A classic question in international economics is whether it is better to use the exchange rate or the money growth rate as the instrument of monetary policy. A common argument is that the exchange rate has a natural advantage since exchange rates provide signals of policymakers? actions that are easier to monitor than those provided by money growth rates. We formalize this argument in a simple model in which the government chooses which instrument it will use to target inflation. In it, the exchange rate is more transparent than the money growth rate in that the exchange rate is easier for the public to monitor. We find that the greater transparency of the exchange rate regime makes it easier to provide the central bank with incentives to pursue good policies and hence gives this regime a natural advantage over the money regime.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Atkeson & Patrick J. Kehoe, 2001. "The advantage of transparent instruments of monetary policy," Working Papers 614, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedmwp:614
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Antonio Fat¡S & Ilian Mihov & Andrew K. Rose, 2007. "Quantitative Goals for Monetary Policy," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 39(5), pages 1163-1176, August.
    2. George-Marios Angeletos & Alessandro Pavan, 2004. "Transparency of Information and Coordination in Economies with Investment Complementarities," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(2), pages 91-98, May.
    3. Lahura, Erick & Vega, Marco, 2013. "Regímenes cambiarios y desempeño macroeconómico: Una evaluación de la literatura," Revista Estudios Económicos, Banco Central de Reserva del Perú, issue 26, pages 101-119.
    4. Mr. Juan Sole, 2004. "Interest Rate Defenses of Currency Pegs," IMF Working Papers 2004/085, International Monetary Fund.
    5. Wieslawa Przybylska-Kapuścinska, 2007. "Monetary Policy of the Baltic States - new EU Members," Ekonomia journal, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, vol. 19.
    6. Nancy L. Stokey, 2003. ""Rules vs. Discretion" after Twenty-Five Years," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2002, Volume 17, pages 9-64, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Cho, Dongchul, 2003. "Monetary Policy During and After the Crisis in Korea," KDI Policy Studies 2003-01, Korea Development Institute (KDI).
    8. Frankel, Jeffrey, 2010. "Monetary Policy in Emerging Markets," Handbook of Monetary Economics, in: Benjamin M. Friedman & Michael Woodford (ed.), Handbook of Monetary Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 25, pages 1439-1520, Elsevier.
    9. George-Marios Angeletos & Alessandro Pavan, 2005. "Efficiency and Welfare with Complementarities and Asymmetric Information," NBER Working Papers 11826, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Ernesto Dal Bo, 2002. "Supermajority Voting Rules: Balancing Commitment and Flexibility," Economics Series Working Papers 132, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    11. Dal Bo, Ernesto, 2006. "Committees with supermajority voting yield commitment with flexibility," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(4-5), pages 573-599, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Monetary policy - Mathematical models; Foreign exchange rates; Inflation (Finance) - Mathematical models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E5 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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