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Inflation persistence, Price Indexation and Optimal Simple Interest Rate Rules

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Listed:
  • Guido Ascari

    (Department of Economics and Quantitative Methods, University of Pavia)

  • Nicola Branzoli

    (University of Wisconsin Madison)

Abstract

We study the properties of the optimal nominal interest rate policy under different levels of price indexation. In our model indexation regulates the sources of inflation persistence. When indexation is zero, the inflation gap is purely forward- looking and inflation persistence depends only on the level of trend inflation, while full indexation makes the inflation gap persistent and it eliminates the effects of trend inflation. We show that in the former case the optimal policy is inertial and targets inflation stability while in the latter the optimal policy has no inertia and targets the real interest rate. We compare our results with empirical estimates of the FED's policy in the post-WWII era.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Ascari & Nicola Branzoli, 2010. "Inflation persistence, Price Indexation and Optimal Simple Interest Rate Rules," Quaderni di Dipartimento 129, University of Pavia, Department of Economics and Quantitative Methods.
    • Handle: RePEc:pav:wpaper:129
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inflation Persistence; Taylor Rule; New Keynesian model; Indexation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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