--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

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 : High-convexity portfolios outperform

    An important drawback of "traditional yield spread analysis" is the "failure to take into account future interest rate volatility that would affect the expected cash flow" of a fixed income security. How does option adjusted spread analysis correct for the "failure" of traditional yield spread analy

    		•
  • Q : Explaination on Economical Management

    ECONOMICS Explain why each of the following statements is True, False, or Uncertain according to economic principles. Use diagrams where appropriate. Unsupported answers will receive no marks. It is the ex

    		•
  • Q : Entrepreneurs and business are at the

    Explain the statements: Entrepreneurs and business are at the helm of the economy.

    		•
  • Q : The market system not only accepts

    Explain the statements: The market system not only accepts self-interest as a fact of human existence.

    		•
  • Q : Define Average cost and Marginal cost

    Briefly explain the term Average cost and Marginal cost?

    		•
  • Q : What problem does barter entail What

    What problem does barter entail?

    		•
  • Q : What is an Economic Territory Economic

    Economic Territory: This refers to the region of a country where there is a free movement of goods, capital and human resources.

    		•
  • Q : Importance of Earnings per share Write

    Write down the importance of Earnings per share?

    		•
  • Q : Explain and give an illustration

    Explain and give an illustration of (a) the fallacy of composition; and (b) the “after this, therefore because of this” fallacy.  Why are cause-and-effect relationships difficult to isolate in the social sciences?

    		•
  • Q : Resource market for economic capital

    Janet has loaned a start-up coffee house $50,000 and predicts to earn interest from her financial investment. In circular flow model this transaction is an illustration of: (1) An exchange of her saving for interest, via a resource market for the economic capital. (2)

    		•