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A Factor Model Analysis of the Australian Economy and the Effects of Inflation Targeting

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  • Hartigan, Luke
  • Morley, James

Abstract

Based on a dynamic factor model for a dataset with more than one hundred variables, we find that macroeconomic fluctuations in Australia can be largely captured by two common factors. However, the factor structure changed soon after the introduction of inflation targeting in the 1990s, resulting in a large reduction in cross-sectional variation related to these common factors. Estimates from a block exogenous factor augmented vector autoregressive model suggest that the transmission and responsiveness of monetary policy also changed, with policy both more effective and responsive to the potential inflationary impacts of shocks following the introduction of inflation targeting.

Suggested Citation

  • Hartigan, Luke & Morley, James, 2019. "A Factor Model Analysis of the Australian Economy and the Effects of Inflation Targeting," Working Papers 2019-10, University of Sydney, School of Economics, revised Nov 2019.
  • Handle: RePEc:syd:wpaper:2019-10
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    3. Le, Thi Ngoc Lan & Nasir, Muhammad Ali & Huynh, Toan Luu Duc, 2023. "Capital requirements and banks performance under Basel-III: A comparative analysis of Australian and British banks," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 146-157.
    4. Jonathan Hambur & Qazi Haque, 2023. "Can We Use High-Frequency Yield Data to Better Understand the Effects of Monetary Policy and Its Communication? Yes and No!," CAMA Working Papers 2023-26, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.

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    Keywords

    inflation targeting; monetary policy; factor modelling; structural change; impulse response functions;
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