--%>
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 : Help The demand for a resource will

    The demand for a resource will increase if the

    		•
  • Q : Inflation Inflation is frequently

    Inflation is frequently described as "too much money chasing too few goods." Is this a satisfactory definition?

    		•
  • Q : Marginal utility of good at its maximum

    Can someone help me in finding out the right answer from the given options. The consumer maximizes utility whenever the spending patterns cause: (1) Marginal utility of each and every good to be at its maximum value. (2) Marginal utilities of each and every goods cons

    		•
  • Q : List Which of the following lists

    Which of the following lists includes only capital resources (and ther Which of the following lists includes only capital resources (and therefore no labor or land resources)?

    		•
  • Q : How Bank rates control the credit How

    How Bank rates control the credit? Answer: Bank rate is the rate of interest at which the Central bank lends to Commercial banks. By increasing the bank rate centra

    		•
  • Q : Founder of utilitarianism The founder

    The founder of utilitarianism be: (1) Adam Smith. (2) John Stuart Mill. (3) Jeremy Bentham. (4) Feodor Dostoyevsky. (5) Thorstein Veblen. (6) Alfred Marshall. Can someone help me in getting through this problem.

    		•
  • Q : Substitution Effect explanation Can

    Can someone help me in finding out the right answer from the given options. The substitution effect is fully explained when: (i) Brandon just eat tofu since he is on a diet. (ii) A rise in the price of corn chips drives up demand for the salsa. (iii)

    		•
  • Q : Consequence of investment in economy

    When in an economy intended investment is more than intended savings, then what is the consequence of it on the national income? Answer: When I > S, the level of

    		•
  • Q : Difficulty of scarcity People in whole

    People in whole the world confront the difficulty of scarcity at always because: (i) restricted resources and times preclude producing all the goods people need. (ii) greedy capitalist monopolies charge excessively high prices. (iii) international mar

    		•
  • Q : Are government budget scarcities always

    ‘The country is at present in recession and this has led to worse tax revenue and high expenses. The effect is a huge deficit. The government decides to increase taxes and lower government expenses. Is this an excellent idea?’

    		•