Hyperbolic Discounting and Positive Optimal Inflation

Liam Graham and Dennis Snower

No 3464, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: The Friedman rule states that steady-state welfare is maximized when there is deflation at the real rate of interest. Recent work by Khan et al (2003) uses a richer model but still finds deflation optimal. In an otherwise standard new Keynesian model we show that, if households have hyperbolic discounting, small positive rates of inflation can be optimal. In our baseline calibration, the optimal rate of inflation is 2.1% and remains positive across a wide range of calibrations.

Keywords: optimal monetary policy; inflation targeting; unemployment; Phillips curve; nominal inertia; monetary policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E20 E40 E50 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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