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Optimal Monetary Policy with an Uncertain Cost Channel

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  • PETER TILLMANN

Abstract

The cost channel of monetary transmission describes a supply‐side effect of interest rates on firms' costs. Previous research has found this effect to vary, both over time and across countries. Moreover, the cyclical nature of financial frictions is likely to amplify the cost channel. This paper derives optimal monetary policy in the presence of uncertainty about the true size of the cost channel. In a min–max approach, the central bank derives an optimal policy plan to be implemented by a Taylor rule. It is shown that uncertainty about the cost channel leads to an attenuated interest rate setting behavior. In this respect, the Brainard (1967) principle of cautious policy in the face of uncertainty continues to hold in both a Bayesian and a min–max framework.

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  • Peter Tillmann, 2009. "Optimal Monetary Policy with an Uncertain Cost Channel," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(5), pages 885-906, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jmoncb:v:41:y:2009:i:5:p:885-906
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-4616.2009.00237.x
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    5. Chattopadhyay, Siddhartha & Ghosh, Taniya, 2020. "Taylor Rule implementation of the optimal policy at the zero lower bound: Does the cost channel matter?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 351-366.
    6. Oros, Cornel & Zimmer, Blandine, 2020. "Budget uncertainty in a monetary union," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Hasui, Kohei, 2020. "A Note On Robust Monetary Policy And Non-Zero Trend Inflation," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 24(6), pages 1574-1594, September.
    8. Ida, Daisuke, 2024. "Household heterogeneity and the price puzzle in a new Keynesian model," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    9. Hasui Kohei, 2021. "Trend Growth and Robust Monetary Policy," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 21(2), pages 449-472, June.

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