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

We present a model embodying moderate amounts of nominal rigidities that accounts for the observed inertia in inflation and persistence in output. The key features of our model are those that prevent a sharp rise in marginal costs after an expansionary shock to monetary policy. Of these features, the most important are staggered wage contracts that have an average duration of three quarters and variable capital utilization.

/pdf/nominal-rigidities-and-the-dynamic-effects-of-a-shock-to-24aok45g1c.pdf

Nominal Rigidities and the Dynamic Effects of a Shock to Monetary Policy

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

Using a Bayesian likelihood approach, we estimate a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model for the US economy using seven macro-economic time series. The model incorporates many types of real and nominal frictions and seven types of structural shocks. We show that this model is able to compete with Bayesian Vector Autoregression models in out-of-sample prediction. We investigate the relative empirical importance of the various frictions. Finally, using the estimated model we address a number of key issues in business cycle analysis: What are the sources of business cycle fluctuations? Can the model explain the cross-correlation between output and inflation? What are the effects of productivity on hours worked? What are the sources of the "Great Moderation"?

/pdf/shocks-and-frictions-in-us-business-cycles-a-bayesian-dsge-d1f6ynd58q.pdf

Shocks and Frictions in US Business Cycles: A Bayesian DSGE Approach

We estimate a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model for the US economy. The model incorporates many types of real and nominal frictions: sticky nominal price and wage setting, habit formation in consumption, investment adjustment costs, variable capital utilisation and fixed costs in production. It also contains many types of shocks including productivity, labour supply, investment, preference, cost-push and monetary policy shocks. Using Bayesian estimation techniques, the relative importance of the various frictions and shocks in explaining the US business cycle are empirically investigated. We also show that this model is able to outperform standard VAR and BVAR models in out-of-sample prediction.

/pdf/shocks-and-frictions-in-us-business-cycles-a-bayesian-dsge-2gcs6kvruw.pdf

Shocks and frictions in US business cycles: A Bayesian DSGE approach

A method for taking models to the data

This paper estimates a New Keynesian model to draw inferences about the behavior of the Federal Reserve’s unobserved inflation target. The results indicate that the target rose from 1 1/4 percent in 1959 to over 8 percent in the mid-to-late 1970s before falling back below 2 1/2 percent in 2004. The results also provide some support for the hypothesis that over the entire postwar period, Federal Reserve policy has systematically translated short-run price pressures set off by supply-side shocks into more persistent movements in inflation itself, although considerable uncertainty remains about the true source of shifts in the inflation target. JEL: E31, E32, E52.

/pdf/changes-in-the-federal-reserve-s-inflation-target-causes-and-324ckvaa28.pdf

Changes in the Federal Reserve's Inflation Target: Causes and Consequences

Sticky-price models of the business cycle: Specification and stability

In the New Keynesian model, preference, cost-push, and monetary shocks all compete with the real-business-cycle model's technology shock in driving aggregate fluctuations. A version of this model, estimated via maximum likelihood, points to these other shocks as being more important for explaining the behavior of output, inflation, and interest rates in the postwar U.S. data. These results weaken the links between the current generation of New Keynesian models and the real-business-cycle models from which they were originally derived. They also suggest that Federal Reserve officials have often faced difficult trade-offs in conducting monetary policy.

/pdf/technology-shocks-in-the-new-keynesian-model-4ou0yppwn4.pdf

Technology Shocks in the New Keynesian Model

A small, structural model of the monetary business cycle implies that real money balances enter into a correctly-specified, forward-looking IS curve if and only if they enter into a correctly-specified, forward-looking Phillips curve. The model also implies that empirical measures of real balances must be adjusted for shifts in money demand to accurately isolate and quantify the dynamic effects of money on output and inflation. Maximum likelihood estimates of the modelOs parameters take both these considerations into account, but still suggest that money plays a minimal role in the monetary business cycle.

/pdf/money-s-role-in-the-monetary-business-cycle-3nxa4kb6r3.pdf

Peter N. Ireland

Papers

A method for taking models to the data

Changes in the Federal Reserve's Inflation Target: Causes and Consequences

Sticky-price models of the business cycle: Specification and stability

Technology Shocks in the New Keynesian Model

Money's Role in the Monetary Business Cycle