Optimal Inflation for the US Economy

Roberto Billi

American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 2011, vol. 3, issue 3, 29-52

Abstract: This paper studies the optimal long-run inflation rate (OIR) in a small New Keynesian model, where the only policy instrument is a short-term nominal interest rate that may occasionally run against a zero lower bound (ZLB). The model allows for worst-case scenarios of misspecification. The analysis shows first, if the government optimally commits, the OIR is below 1 percent annually. Second, if the government re-optimizes each period, the OIR rises markedly to 17 percent. Third, if the government commits only to an inertial Taylor rule, the inflation bias is eliminated at very low cost in terms of welfare for the representative household. (JEL E12, E31, E43, E52, E58)

JEL-codes: E12 E31 E43 E52 E58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
Note: DOI: 10.1257/mac.3.3.29
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (61)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Optimal inflation for the U.S (2007)
Working Paper: The Optimal Inflation Buffer with a Zero Bound on Nominal Interest Rates (2005)
Working Paper: The optimal inflation buffer with a zero bound on nominal interest rates (2004)
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