IMF Working Papers

Inflation Targeting: Theory and Policy Implications

By J. H. Green

June 1, 1996

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J. H. Green Inflation Targeting: Theory and Policy Implications, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 1996) accessed November 8, 2024
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

As with many monetary policy frameworks, inflation targeting is subject to the well-known problem of inflation bias. With inflation targeting, however, the bias becomes apparent not as inflation above desired levels, but as a wedge between the announced target and observed inflation. This inconsistency could render the framework neither credible nor enforceable since the target is overshot on average. The problem can be addressed by assigning price stability as the single policy objective or by assigning a joint target for both inflation and output, provided that they are consistent. Many inflation targeting countries take the joint target approach implicitly through transparency measures which publicly assess monetary conditions in terms of potential output and output gaps.

Subject: Banking, Inflation, Inflation targeting, Monetary policy, Monetary policy frameworks, Potential output, Price stabilization, Prices, Production, Tax incentives

Keywords: Central bank, Commitment policy regime, Europe, Government-central bank arrangement, Government-central bank relationship, Inflation, Inflation bias, Inflation bias need, Inflation expectation, Inflation target approach, Inflation target policy, Inflation targeting, Inflation targeting framework, Inflation targeting policy framework, Inflation-output tradeoff, Monetary policy, Monetary policy frameworks, Policy rule, Potential output, Price stabilization, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    22

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 1996/065

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA0651996

  • ISBN:

    9781451848656

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941