--%>
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 : Liability of tax problem If the

    If the liability to give a tax is on one person and the burden of tax fall on some other person, state the kind of tax? Answer: These are indirect taxes like sales

    		•
  • 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 : Stage of the business cycle What stage

    What stage of the business cycle is our economy experiencing at present time? proof your answer.

    		•
  • Q : Shifting of market problem When this

    When this market starts in equilibrium at point e on S0D0 and then young American families rousingly “inherit” furniture as their baby-boomer parents shift into smaller retirement homes, then this market will tend to shift in the direction of: (i) point i.

    		•
  • 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 : Expanding consumption of a good I have

    I have a problem in economics on Expanding consumption of a good. Please help me in the following question. Your consumption of a good tends to expand if it’s: (i) Relative marginal utility surpasses its relative price. (ii) Total utility is les

    		•
  • Q : Drawback in illustration of

    Illustrations of macroeconomic aggregates would NOT consist of the: (1) tax responsibilities of a family. (2) unemployment rate. (3) level of national income. (4) supply of money. (5) rate of inflation. Can someone

    		•
  • Q : Value of total receipts of government

    Determine the value of total receipts of government budget when budget deficit is Rs 2,000 crores and the net expenses is Rs 3,000 crores.

    		•
  • Q : Fiscal measures to accurate

    Describe the fiscal measures to accurate the condition of deficient demand and excess demand. Answer: Fiscal measures are the government’s budgetary policy th

    		•
  • 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.

    		•