--%>

Formally adopt inflation targeting

Question: Why might it be difficult for the Fed to formally adopt inflation targeting?  Would inflation targeting be a good policy for the Fed in the present economic environment?

Answer:

The most important part of the inflation targeting debate is about the optimal level of inflation. While many people believe that it should be in the range of 2%, it is difficult to ascertain the actual optimal level. Again, if the rate is fixed to 2%, then the Fed will have limited scope for a cut back in the interest rates, which might be required periodically to boost investment. Another case in point is that empirical evidence has suggested that US has experienced lowest level of unemployment when the inflation rate was in the range of 3-5%.

Another problem is that the inflation targeting itself might not be efficient, asset price and hence the asset market control will also become important if the goals of inflation targeting are to be realized. In the present economic scenario, when the economy needs stimulus, and investment levels are quite low with high level of unemployment, inflation targeting does not seem to be a good policy measure. There is a need for an increase in the aggregate demand, which if materializes, will lead to an increase in inflation. And if inflation targeting is in place, the interest rates will have to be hiked, which will hamper recovery.

 

   Related Questions in Business Economics

  • Q : Price charges of firm in perfectly

    Assume that the equilibrium price within a perfectly competitive industry is $15 and a firm into the industry charges $21 there. Which of the given will occur: w) the firm's profits will rise. x) The firm's revenue will rise. y) The firm will not sell

  • Q : Average Revenue and Marginal Revenue

    When the market price is $25, then the average revenue of selling five units is: w) $5. x) $12.50. y) $25. z) $125. Please guys help me to solve out this type of problem regarding profit in a perfectly competitive market

  • Q : Explain of the law of demand Explain of

    Explain of the law of demand?

  • Q : Important source of revenue and major

    What is the most important source of revenue and the major type of expenditure at the Federal level?

  • Q : Perfect competition leads the economic

    The perfectly competitive market structure benefits consumers since: w) firms do not generate goods at the lowest possible price within the long run. x) firms are forced through competitive pressure to be as efficient as possible. y) firms add a much

  • Q : In long-run equilibrium earning of zero

    When, in a perfectly competitive industry, where the market price facing a firm is above its average total cost on the output here marginal revenue equivalents marginal cost, in that

  • Q : Exchange rate in purchasing power parity

    Question: In June 2005, a Big Mac sold for 6,000 pesos in Colombia and $3.00 in the United States.  The exchange rate in June 2005 was 2,300 pesos per US Dollar.  So, on Big Mac purchasing power parity gr

  • Q : Other things equal assumption helps

    Explain the statement: “The other things equal assumption helps isolate key economic relationships.”?

  • Q : Problem on productive contribution

    Suppositions underpinning simple production possibilities frontier models don’t comprise a need that: (i) Net resources are fixed. (ii) All resources are efficiently employed. (iii) Technology is steady. (iv) Resource owners are paid according t

  • Q : Define Dependent and independent

    Define Dependent and independent variables?