Does Inflation Targeting Matter?

Author/Editor:

Niamh Sheridan ; Laurence M. Ball

Publication Date:

June 1, 2003

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

This paper asks whether inflation targeting improves economic performance, as measured by the behavior of inflation, output, and interest rates. We compare 7 OECD countries that adopted inflation targeting in the early 1990s to 13 that did not. After the early 1990s, performance improved along many dimensions for both targeting and nontargeting countries. In some cases, the targeters improved by more. However, these differences are explained by the fact that targeters performed worse than nontargeters before the early 1990s, and there is regression towards the mean. Once one controls for this, there is no evidence that inflation targeting improves performance.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2003/129

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

June 1, 2003

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451855135/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA1292003

Pages:

36

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