Optimal Interest-Rate Rules: I. General Theory

Marc Giannoni and Michael Woodford

No 9419, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This paper proposes a general method for deriving an optimal monetary policy rule in the case of a dynamic linear rational-expectations model and a quadratic objective function for policy. A commitment to a rule of the type proposed results in a determinate equilibrium in which the responses to shocks are optimal. Furthermore, the optimality of the proposed policy rule is independent of the specification of the stochastic disturbances. Finally, the proposed rules can be justified from a timeless perspective,' so that commitment to such a rule need not imply time-inconsistent policy. We show that under fairly general condition, optimal policy can by represented by a generalized Taylor rule, in which however the relation between the interest-rate instrument and the other target variables is not purely contemporaneous, as in Taylor's specification. We also offer general conditions under which optimal policy can be represented by a 'super-inertial' interest-rate rule, and under which it can be represented by a pure 'targeting rule' that makes no explicit reference to the path of the instrument.

JEL-codes: E52 E61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba and nep-dge
Note: EFG ME
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (88)

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Working Paper: Optimal Interest-Rate Rules: I. General Theory (2003)
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