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Monetary regime switches and unstable objectives

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  • Davide Debortoli
  • Ricardo Nunes

Abstract

Monetary policy objectives and targets are not necessarily stable over time. The regime switching literature has typically analyzed and interpreted changes in policymakers' behavior through simple interest rate rules. This paper analyzes policy regime switches explicitly modeling policymakers' behavior and objectives. We show how current monetary policy is affected and should optimally respond to alternative regimes. We also show that changes in the parameters of simple rules do not necessarily correspond to changes in policymakers' preferences. In fact, capturing and interpreting regime changes in preferences through interest rate rules can lead to misleading results.

Suggested Citation

  • Davide Debortoli & Ricardo Nunes, 2011. "Monetary regime switches and unstable objectives," International Finance Discussion Papers 1036, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedgif:1036
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chen, Xiaoshan & Kirsanova, Tatiana & Leith, Campbell, 2017. "How optimal is US monetary policy?," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 96-111.
    3. Moore, Bartholomew, 2014. "Monetary policy regimes and inflation in the new-Keynesian model," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 323-337.

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