Nominal GDP versus price level targeting: An empirical evaluation

James S. Fackler and W. McMillin ()

Journal of Economics and Business, 2020, vol. 109, issue C, No S0148619519301882

Abstract: In response to the ongoing discussion in the literature of the appropriate framework for monetary policy, we compare two of the most frequently discussed alternatives to inflation targeting—targeting either the level of nominal GDP or the price level—within the context of a simple vector autoregressive (VAR) model. Our approach can be considered a constrained-discretion approach. The model is estimated using quarterly data over the period 1979:4-2003:4, a period in which the economy was buffeted by substantial supply and demand shocks. The paths of the federal funds rate, nominal GDP, real GDP, and the price level under nominal GDP and price level targeting are simulated over the 2004:1-2006:4 period. We evaluate nominal GDP and price level targeting by computing the values of simple loss functions. The loss function values indicate that closely targeting the path of nominal GDP based on 4.5% desired growth in nominal GDP produces noticeably lower losses in the simulation period than either price level targeting or a continuation of the implicit flexible inflation targeting monetary policy that characterized the estimation period.

Keywords: Nominal GDP targeting; Price level targeting; Central bank policies; Monetary policy objectives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E31 E37 E52 E58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Working Paper: Nominal GDP versus Price Level Targeting: An Empirical Evaluation (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jebusi:v:109:y:2020:i:c:s0148619519301882

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconbus.2019.105890

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