This paper reviews the recent literature on monetary policy rules. To organize the discussion, we exposit the monetary policy design problem within a simple baseline theoretical framework. We then consider the implications of adding various real word complications. We concentrate on developing results that are robust across a reasonable variety of competing macroeconomic frameworks. Among other things, we show that the optimal policy implicitly incorporates inflation targeting. We also characterize the gains from making credible commitments to fight inflation and consider the implications of frictions such as imperfect information and model uncertainty. Finally, we assess how proposed simple rules, such as the Taylor rule, square with the principles for optimal policy that we describe. We use this same metric to evaluate the recent course of U.S. monetary policy.

/pdf/the-science-of-monetary-policy-a-new-keynesian-perspective-2513aj8m00.pdf

The Science of Monetary Policy: A New Keynesian Perspective

The paper reviews the recent literature on monetary policy rules. We exposit the monetary policy design problem within a simple baseline theoretical framework. We then consider the implications of adding various real world complications. Among other things, we show that the optimal policy implicitly incorporates inflation targeting. We also characterize the gains from making a credible commitment to fight inflation. In contrast to conventional wisdom, we show that gains from commitment may emerge even if the central bank is not trying to inadvisedly push output above its natural level. We also consider the implications of frictions such as imperfect information.

/pdf/the-science-of-monetary-policy-a-new-keynesian-perspective-1hk1n82x2a.pdf

Interest and Prices

Part 1 Empirical evidence on money and output: introduction some basic correlations estimating the effect of money on output summary. Part 2 Money in a general equilibrium framework: introduction the Tobin effect money in the utility function summary appendix - the MIU approximation problems. Part 3 Money and transactions: introduction shopping-time models cash-in-advance models other approaches summary appendix - the CIA approximation problems. Part 4 Money and public finance: introduction bugdet accounting equilibrium seigniorage optimal taxation and seigniorage Friedman's rule revisited nonindexed tax systems problems. Part 5 Money and output in the short run: introduction flexible prices sticky prices and wages a framework for monetary analysis inflation persistence summary appendix problems. Part 6 Money and the open economy: introduction the Obstfeld-Rogoff two-country model policy coordination the small open economy summary appendix problems. Part 7 The credit channel of monetary policy: introduction imperfect information in credit markets macroeconomic implications does credit matter? summary. Part 8 Discretionary policy and time inconsistency: introduction inflation under discretionary policy solutions to the inflation bias is the inflation bias important? do central banking institutions matter? lessons and conclusions problems. Part 9 Monetary-policy operating procedures: introduction from instruments to goals the instrument-choice problem operating procedures and policy measures problems. Part 10 Interest rates and monetary policy: introduction interest-rate rule and the price level interest rate policies in general equilibrium models the term structure of interest rates a model for policy analysis summary problems.

Monetary Theory and Policy

Recursive methods offer a powerful approach in dynamic macroeconomics. This book contains both an introduction to recursive tools, including standard applications such as asset pricing, and advanced material, including analyses of reputational mechanisms and contract design. The tools are presented with enough technical sophistication to get the reader started working on practical problems. When numerical simulations are called for, the book provides suggestions for how to proceed, as well as references for further reading. The applications cover many substantive issues in macroeconomics, such as equilibrium asset prices, market incompleteness, wealth distribution, fiscal-monetary theories of inflation, government debt, optimal labour and capital taxation, time consistency and credible government policies, optimal social insurance, economic growth and labour market dynamics.

Recursive Macroeconomic Theory

We build a business cycle model where employers' screening of heterogeneous workers plays a central role in determining both the flows into and out of unemployment. The model can address how differences between the US and European labor market flows affect business cycle dynamics. It provides a novel and rich environment to study the implications of labor market structure for the goals and constraints faced by central banks and on the optimal design of monetary policy.

/pdf/business-cycles-and-labor-market-flows-with-sequential-bvnnz61vps.pdf

Business Cycles and Labor Market Flows with Sequential Screening

The role of a real interest rate and a credit aggregate as intermediate monetary policy targets are investigated under the assumption of rational expectations. The analysis expands a standard aggregate model to include a credit market and a market determined interest rate on bank deposits. This allows the implications for output stabilization of real interest rate policy to be examined for a wider variety of shocks than normally considered in the literature, as well as allowing a credit aggregate policy to be studied.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/nber_w1575.pdf?abstractid=328689&mirid=2

Real Interest Rate, Credit Markets, and Economic Stabilization

Modern policy analysis makes extensive use of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. These models differ significantly from earlier generations of large-scale econometric models. I review what I see as major progress in the ability of economists to conduct model-based policy analysis. This progress has come through the evolution in the types of models being used and in a refinement of the types of questions asked of these models.

Commentary: Using models for monetary policy analysis

Huizinga and Mishkin (1986) have recently proposed a simple method for testing whether monetary policy regime changes have affected the ex-ante real rate of interest. This paper shows that care must be taken in choosing the set of variables on which to project the ex-post real rate if inferences about the ex-ante real rate are to be drawn. It is shown that Huizinga. and Mishkin's tests cannot distinguish between shifts in the real rate process and shifts in the inflation process.

Carl E. Walsh

Papers

Business Cycles and Labor Market Flows with Sequential Screening

Real Interest Rate, Credit Markets, and Economic Stabilization

Commentary: Using models for monetary policy analysis

Testing for Real Effects of Monetary Policy Regime Shifts

Real Interest Rate, Credit Markets, and Economic Stabilization