Implementing Optimal Policy through Inflation-Forecast Targeting

PDF

Lars E.O. Svensson
Princeton University,
CEPR and NBER

and

Michael Woodford
Columbia University and NBER

First Draft: November 1999
Version 2.6: April 2003

In Bernanke, Ben S., and Michael Woodford, eds. (2005),

The Inflation-Targeting Debate, University of Chicago Press, 9-83.

Abstract

We examine to what extent variants of inflation-forecast targeting can avoid stabilization bias, incorporate history-dependence, and achieve determinacy of equilibrium, so as to reproduce the socially optimal equilibrium under commitment. We also evaluate these variants in terms of their transparency and robustness. A suitably designed inflation-forecast targeting rule can achieve the social optimum and at the same time be both more transparent and more robust than competing instrument rules.

JEL Classification: E42, E52, E58

Keywords: Commitment, discretion, inflation targeting.