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Inflation targets and inflation targeting

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  • Laurence H. Meyer

Abstract

The Federal Reserve currently has a dual mandate: promote price stability and full employment. In a speech presented at the University of California at San Diego Economic Roundtable, Laurence Meyer explores two policy options that would change the current framework. Meyer discusses whether the United States should (i) move to an inflation-targeting regime (placing primary emphasis on price stability) or (ii) set an explicit numerical target for inflation within the context of the current dual mandate.> For background, he describes an inflationtargeting regime, reviews various mandates> around the world, and discusses common elements and differences among the regimes.> He then explores each option. Because the first option may reduce the flexibility of monetary policy too stringently, it is determined to be undesirable. The second option would, in the author?s opinion, give added precision to an already mandated objective because it would improve transparency and accountability of the Fed, anchor inflation expectations and increase the Fed?s credibility, and institutionalize good monetary policy. The steps necessary to implement the preferred option are outlined.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurence H. Meyer, 2001. "Inflation targets and inflation targeting," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, vol. 83(Nov.), pages 1-14.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedlrv:y:2001:i:nov.:p:1-14:n:v.83no.6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew T.. Levin & Volker Wieland & John Williams, 1999. "Robustness of Simple Monetary Policy Rules under Model Uncertainty," NBER Chapters, in: Monetary Policy Rules, pages 263-318, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eckhard Hein & Torsten Niechoj, 2005. "Leitlinien für ein dauerhaftes Wachstum in der EU? Konzept und Wirkung der "Grundzüge der Wirtschaftspolitik"," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 31(1), pages 11-40.
    2. António Duarte, 2009. "The Portuguese Disinflation Process: Analysis of Some Costs and Benefits," Transition Studies Review, Springer;Central Eastern European University Network (CEEUN), vol. 16(1), pages 157-173, May.
    3. Baltensperger, Ernst & Fischer, Andreas M. & Jordan, Thomas J., 2007. "Strong goal independence and inflation targets," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 88-105, March.
    4. Lars E. O. Svensson, 2002. "Monetary policy and real stabilization," Proceedings - Economic Policy Symposium - Jackson Hole, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, pages 261-312.
    5. Eckhard Hein, 2002. "Monetary policy and wage bargaining in the EMU: restrictive ECB policies, high unemployment, nominal wage restraint and inflation above the target," BNL Quarterly Review, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, vol. 55(222), pages 299-337.
    6. Mauricio Mayorga Martínez & Evelyn Muñoz Salas, 2004. "¿Existe disciplina de mercado en el sistema bancario costarricense?," Monetaria, CEMLA, vol. 0(3), pages 263-289, julio-sep.
    7. Gustavo Bussinger, 2004. "El canal de crédito como mecanismo de transmisión de la política monetaria en Brasil," Monetaria, CEMLA, vol. 0(3), pages 243-262, julio-sep.
    8. Lena Cleanthous, 2020. "Conceptual note on inflation targeting types and their performance in anchoring inflation expectations," Working Papers 2020-01, Central Bank of Cyprus.
    9. Øistein RØisland & Ragnar Torvik, 2003. "Optimum Currency Areas Under Inflation Targeting," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 99-118, April.
    10. Mr. Mark R. Stone & Mr. Charles Frederick Kramer, 2005. "A Post-Reflation Monetary Framework for Japan," IMF Working Papers 2005/073, International Monetary Fund.
    11. Eckhard Hein, 2012. "The Macroeconomics of Finance-Dominated Capitalism – and its Crisis," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14931.
    12. Peter J. Boettke & Alexander W. Salter & Daniel J. Smith, 2018. "Money as meta-rule: Buchanan’s constitutional economics as a foundation for monetary stability," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 529-555, September.
    13. Shawn Chen‐Yu Leu & Jeffrey Sheen, 2006. "Asymmetric Monetary Policy in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 82(s1), pages 85-96, September.
    14. Nelson, Edward, 2003. "The future of monetary aggregates in monetary policy analysis," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(5), pages 1029-1059, July.
    15. José R. Sánchez Fung, 2004. "Reglas monetarias, metas de inflación y sus aplicaciones potenciales de la República Dominicana," Monetaria, CEMLA, vol. 0(3), pages 291-323, julio-sep.
    16. Hilcías Estuardo Samayoa & Héctor Augusto Valle Samayoa, 2004. "Un modelo básico de política monetaria para Guatemala," Monetaria, CEMLA, vol. 0(3), pages 223-242, julio-sep.
    17. Агамбаева С.Б. // Agambayeva S.B. & Джусангалиева К.Е. // Jussangaliyeva K.E. & Акылбеков А.А. // Akylbekov A.A. & Ханетова А.Б. // Khanetova A.B., 2022. "Таргет по инфляции: формулировка цели и последствия ее смены. Обзор международного опыта. // Inflation Target: Formulation of the Goal and Implications of its Change. Overview of international experie," Economic Review(National Bank of Kazakhstan), National Bank of Kazakhstan, issue 3/4, pages 4-25.

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    Keywords

    Monetary policy; Inflation (Finance);

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