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Optimal monetary policy under bounded rationality

Author

Listed:
  • Benchimol, Jonathan
  • Bounader, Lahcen

Abstract

Optimal monetary policy under discretion, commitment, and optimal simple rules regimes is analyzed through a behavioral New Keynesian model. Flexible price level targeting dominates under discretion; flexible inflation targeting dominates under commitment; and strict price level targeting dominates when using optimal simple rules. The optimality of a particular regime is found to be independent of bounded rationality and only regime 's stabilizing properties condition its hierarchy. For every targeting regime, the policymaker 's knowledge of agents' myopia is decisive in terms of policy reactions. Welfare evaluation of different targeting regimes reveals that bounded rationality is not necessarily associated with decreased welfare. Several forms of economic inattention can increase welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Benchimol, Jonathan & Bounader, Lahcen, 2018. "Optimal monetary policy under bounded rationality," Bank of Finland Research Discussion Papers 9/2018, Bank of Finland.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:bofrdp:rdp2018_009
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    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Bhatnagar, Aryaman, 2023. "Monetary policy with non-Ricardian households," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 12-26.
    3. El-Shagi, Makram, 2025. "Does the Fed adhere to its mandate? Estimating the Federal Reserve’s objective function," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 1782-1796.
    4. Benchimol, Jonathan & Bounader, Lahcen & Dotta, Mario, 2025. "Estimating Behavioral Inattention," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    5. Benchimol, Jonathan, 2024. "Central bank objectives, monetary policy rules, and limited information," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 80, pages 1-37.
    6. Alejandro Gurrola Luna & Stephen McKnight, 2025. "Bounded Rationality and Macroeconomic (In)Stability," Serie documentos de trabajo del Centro de Estudios Económicos 2025-02, El Colegio de México, Centro de Estudios Económicos.
    7. Bounader Lahcen & Traficante Guido, 2023. "Robustly Optimal Monetary Policy in a Behavioral Environment," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 23(1), pages 521-550, January.
    8. Anthony Brassil & Christopher G Gibbs & Callum Ryan, 2025. "Boundedly Rational Expectations and the Optimality of Flexible Average Inflation Targeting," RBA Research Discussion Papers rdp2025-02, Reserve Bank of Australia.
    9. Brzoza-Brzezina, Michał & Galiński, Paweł R. & Makarski, Krzysztof, 2025. "Monetary and fiscal policy in a two-country model with behavioral expectations," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    10. Edouard Djeutem & Mario He & Abeer Reza & Yang Zhang, 2022. "Household Heterogeneity and the Performance of Monetary Policy Frameworks," Staff Working Papers 22-12, Bank of Canada.
    11. Volker Hahn & Michal Marencak, 2025. "Inflation Perceptions and Monetary Policy," Working and Discussion Papers WP 4/2025, Research Department, National Bank of Slovakia.
    12. Oliver Pfäuti & Fabian Seyrich, 2022. "A Behavioral Heterogeneous Agent New Keynesian Model," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2022_334, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    13. Dong, Xue & Minford, Patrick & Meenagh, David & Yang, Xiaoliang, 2023. "Bounded rational expectation: How it can affect the effectiveness of monetary rules in the open economy," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    14. Ida, Daisuke & Kaminoyama, Kenichi, 2025. "Effect of a cost channel on monetary policy transmission in a behavioral new Keynesian model," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 29, pages 1-1, January.
    15. Wagner, Joel & Schlanger, Tudor & Zhang, Yang, 2023. "A horse race of alternative monetary policy regimes under bounded rationality," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    16. Dobrew, Michael & Gerke, Rafael & Kienzler, Daniel & Schwemmer, Alexander, 2023. "Monetary policy rules under bounded rationality," Discussion Papers 18/2023, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    17. Michel Grimm & Torben Klarl, 2025. "From Heatwaves to Cold Spells: How Extreme Temperature Events Shape Inflation in Germany," Bremen Papers on Economics & Innovation 2502, University of Bremen, Faculty of Business Studies and Economics.
    18. Joel Wagner & Tudor Schlanger & Yang Zhang, 2022. "A Horse Race of Alternative Monetary Policy Regimes Under Bounded Rationality," Discussion Papers 2022-4, Bank of Canada.
    19. Meggiorini, Greta, 2023. "Behavioral New Keynesian Models: An empirical assessment," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods
    • E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory

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