--%>
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 : Impact on income due to price of excess

    What is the impact on income or output and price of excess demand (Inflationary gap)? Answer: In the condition of excess demand (that is Inflationary gap) there wil

    		•
  • Q : Example of microeconomic issue Hey

    Hey friends i need your support for justify the problem that is given below: If the United Auto Workers Union acquires benefit package and a large wage from GM, Ford, and Chrysler which increases the cost of U.S. cars, it is a

  • Q : Fiscal deficits What are the causes of

    What are the causes of the fiscal deficits experienced by many developed nations in the past three years and what are the main effects of the resulting government borrowing? For example – Greece/Ireland/Portugal/Spain situation and the large def

    		•
  • Q : GDP gap "The economic cost of

    "The economic cost of unemployment is measured by the GDP gap." Explain this statement. ?

    		•
  • Q : Why value of multiplier is low In poor

    In poor countries people spend a big percentage of their income so that APC and MPC are high. Yet, the value of multiplier is low. Explain why?

    		•
  • Q : Demand according to range of adjustments

    As longer time periods are taken and a bigger range of adjustments (or substitutions) become obtainable, then demand curves tend to become: (1) flatter, as supply curves become steeper. (2) Steeper as supply curves become flatter. (3) Flatter, and therefore do supply

    		•
  • Q : Problem on rational consumption

    Whenever you dine at an “all-you-can-eat” buffet, the rational consumption prototype is to carry on eating till: (1) The restaurant goes bankrupt. (2) You have eaten as much food as it would encompass cost had you made your own meal at hom

    		•
  • Q : Difference on consumer willing to pay

    I have a problem in economics on Consumer Surplus-Difference consumer willing to pay and what actually pay. Please help me in the following question. The consumer surplus signifies to the difference among the: (i) Satisfaction of wealthy people and th

    		•
  • Q : Problem on Imperfect information

    Imperfect information at times causes consumer’s attempts to maximize their contentment to fail since: (i) Prospects are imperfectly realized, and trial-and-error prototypes can lead to mistakes. (ii) Sellers might exploit asymmetric information

    		•
  • Q : Principles of macroeconomics What are

    What are the “powers of the Federal Reserve

    		•