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Dispersion of FOMC Policymakers: Evidence from Individual Economic Projections with Identities

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Listed:
  • Natsuki Arai
  • Shian Chang

Abstract

This paper analyzes the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) policymakers' economic projections with identities published after 2007 and presents three sets of results. First, the dispersion of projections across policymakers is associated with the regional economic conditions they represent and their monetary policy preferences. Second, the policymakers' reaction function is consistent with the Taylor rule and satisfies the Taylor principle for stability. Their projections align with Okun's law and the Phillips curve. Finally, the efficiency evaluations to test the unpredictability of forecast errors and revisions indicate that the efficiency is rejected by many policymakers, with rejections concentrated in the years following the Great Recession.

Suggested Citation

  • Natsuki Arai & Shian Chang, 2025. "Dispersion of FOMC Policymakers: Evidence from Individual Economic Projections with Identities," Working Papers 2025-003, The George Washington University, Department of Economics, H. O. Stekler Research Program on Forecasting.
    • Handle: RePEc:gwc:wpaper:2025-003
    as

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    File URL: https://www2.gwu.edu/~forcpgm/2025-003.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    4. Ellis, Michael A. & Liu, Dandan, 2013. "Do FOMC forecasts add value to staff forecasts?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 332-340.
    5. Bennani, Hamza & Farvaque, Etienne & Stanek, Piotr, 2018. "Influence of regional cycles and personal background on FOMC members’ preferences and disagreement," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 416-424.
    6. Bennani, Hamza & Kranz, Tobias & Neuenkirch, Matthias, 2018. "Disagreement between FOMC members and the Fed’s staff: New insights based on a counterfactual interest rate," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 139-153.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    FOMC; Individual Projections; Regional Influence; Policy Preference; Forecast Efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E47 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
    • 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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