Posted

April 29, 2011 11:25:52 PM

Date

2011-04

Author

Issing, Otmar

Affiliation

Research Department, IMF

Title

Lessons for Monetary Policy: What Should the Consensus Be?

Summary /
Abstract

This paper outlines important lessons for monetary policy. In particular, the role of inflation targeting, which was much acclaimed prior to the financial crisis and since then has not lost much of its endorsement, is critically reviewed. Ignoring the relation between monetary policy and asset prices, as is the case in this monetary policy approach, can lead to financial instability. In contrast, giving, inter alia, monetary factors a role in central banks’ policy decisions, as is done in the ECB’s encompassing approach, helps prevent these potentially harmful side effects and thus allows for fostering financial stability. Finally, this paper makes a case against increasing the central banks’ inflation target.

Keywords

Inflation targeting, asset prices, financial stability, ECB

URL

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2011/wp1197.pdf

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