The Optimal Inflation Target and the Natural Rate of Interest

Philippe Andrade, Jordi Galí, Hervé Le Bihan and Julien Matheron

No 24328, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

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

JEL-codes: E31 E51 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
Note: EFG ME
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

Published as Philippe Andrade & Jordi Galí & Hervé Le Bihan & Julien Matheron, 2019. "The Optimal Inflation Target and the Natural Rate of Interest," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, vol 2019(2), pages 173-255.

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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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