--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Would inflation targeting be a good policy

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 Macroeconomics

  • Q : Changing value of multiplier ‘Over the

    ‘Over the precedent 30 years, and particularly as our entry into the EU, imports (and exports) as a proportion of GDP have increases considerably in the UK. What influence has this had on the value of multiplier in the UK?’

    		•
  • Q : Use the principles of supply and demand

    Use the principles of supply and demand to address a predetermined goal (set by the student) in the gasoline market. Be clear on what the current market indicates and why and what your future goal is.

    		•
  • Q : Custodian of nations foreign exchange

    Name the institution that acts as a custodian of nation’s foreign exchange reserves? Answer: The Central Bank is an institution that acts as custodian of natio

    		•
  • Q : Consumer Surplus definition Can someone

    Can someone help me in finding out the right answer from the given options. The basic difference between the dollar amounts people would willingly to pay for a particular quantity of a good and the amounts that they do pay at a particular market price is termed as: (1

    		•
  • Q : Define law of supply Law of supply : It

    Law of supply: It is the claim which, other things equivalent, the quantity supplied of a good increases whenever the price of the good increases.

    		•
  • Q : Redistribution of Income through budget

    Redistribution of Income: Each and every economy strives to achieve a society, where inequality of income and wealth must be minimum. In order to attain this objective via government budget the government spends adequate money on social security schem

    		•
  • Q : What is multiplier Multiplier : The

    Multiplier: The Multiplier is the ratio of change in income by the change in investment. Multiplier (k) = ΔY/ΔI

    		•
  • Q : Market price decrement according to

    When heroin were legalized, in that case the: (w) market price of heroin would drop considerably. (x) demand would raise although supply would decrease. (y) demand would decrease but supply would increase. (z) price of cocaine would raise.

    Q : Balance of trade IN which situation,

    IN which situation, there is a deficit in the balance of trade.

    		•
  • Q : The market system 1. Examples of

    1. Examples of command economies are: A. The United States and Japan. B. Sweden and Norway. C. Mexico and Brazil. D. Cuba and North Korea.

    		•