The Optimal Inflation Target and the Natural Rate of Interest

Galí, Jordi, Philippe Andrade, Hervé Le Bihan and Julien Matheron
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Jordi Galí

No 12723, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We study how changes in the value of the steady-state real interest rate affect the optimal inflation target, both in the U.S. and the euro area, using an estimated New Keynesian DSGE model that incorporates the zero (or effective) lower bound on the nominal interest rate. We find that this relation is downward sloping, but its slope is not necessarily one-for-one: increases in the optimal inflation rate are generally lower than declines in the steady-state real interest rate. Our approach allows us not only to assess the uncertainty surrounding the optimal inflation target, but also to determine the latter while taking into account the parameter uncertainty facing the policy maker, including uncertainty with regard to the determinants of the steady-state real interest rate. We find that in the currently empirically relevant region for the US as well as the euro area, the slope of the curve is close to -0.9. That finding is robust to allowing for parameter uncertainty.

Keywords: Inflation target; Effective lower bound (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E31 E52 E58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba, nep-dge, nep-mac and nep-mon
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Optimal Inflation Target and the Natural Rate of Interest (2019)
Working Paper: The Optimal Inflation Target and the Natural Rate of Interest (2019)
Working Paper: The optimal inflation target and the natural rate of interest (2019)
Working Paper: The Optimal Inflation Target and the Natural Rate of Interest (2018)
Working Paper: The Optimal Inflation Target and the Natural Rate of Interest (2018)
Working Paper: The Optimal Inflation Target and the Natural Rate of Interest (2017)
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