The natural real interest rate and the output gap in the euro area: A joint estimation

Julien Garnier () and Bjørn-Roger Wilhelmsen
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Bjørn-Roger Wilhelmsen: Norges Bank (Central Bank of Norway)

No 2005/14, Working Paper from Norges Bank

Abstract: The notion of a natural real rate of interest, due to Wicksell (1936), is widely used in current central bank research. The idea is that there exists a level at which the real interest rate would be compatible with output at its potential level and stationary inflation. Such a consept is of primary concern for monetary policy because it provides a benchmark for the monetary policy stance. This paper applies the method recently suggested by T. Laubach and J. C. Williams to jointly estimate the natural real interest rate and the output gap in the euro area using data from 1960. Our results suggest that the natural real rate of interest has declined gradually over the past 40 years. They also indicate that monetary policy in the euro area was on average stimulative during the 1960s and the 1970s, while it contributed to dampen the output gap and inflation in the 1980s and 1990s.

Keywords: Real interest rate gap; output gap; Kalman filter; euro area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C32 E43 E52 O40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2005-12-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mac and nep-mon
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (68)

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Working Paper: The natural real interest rate and the output gap in the euro area: a joint estimation (2005)
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