--%>

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 : Determining bank problem Which of the

    Which of the given is a bank? a) Post office saving banks (b) LIC (c) UTI (d) IDBI.

  • Q : Problem on perfect replacements Imports

    Imports and American cars are much close however not perfect replacements. When the U.S. govt. tried to enhance American car sales by setting a price ceiling of P1 on imported cars: (i) The quantity of cars imported will drop/fall from Q0 to Q1. (ii)

  • Q : Meaning of Cash Reserve Ratio or CRR

    Meaning of Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): It is the percentage of net or total deposits of commercial bank that are maintained by RBI.

  • Q : Which things are concerned with

    Macroeconomics is mainly concerned along with all things as the: (i) decisions individuals and firms make while prices change. (ii) resource usage and technology bases of firms. (iii) levels of national employment and income. (iv) movements within the

  • Q : The European debt crisis Quetion:

    Quetion: Describe the present economic crisis situation in Europe.   Why has it been so difficult for the Europeans to find a solution to this problem?   Comment on what implications the crisis may have for the rest of the

  • Q : Determine the marginal propensity to

    If disposable income increases from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,100, savings increase by Rs. 30. Determine the marginal propensity to save and marginal propensity to consume?

  • Q : Why tax considered as revenue receipt

    Why is tax considered as revenue receipt? Answer: Since tax neither makes a liability for government nor decreases assets of the government.

  • Q : Why businessmen prefer current bank

    Describe why businessmen mostly wish to open current account in bank?

  • Q : Origin of scarcity problem for each

    Can anybody suggest me the proper explanation for given problem regarding problem of scarcity in economics generally. The problem of scarcity means that the origin for each economic activity is to: (v) facilitate s

  • Q : Adaptive expectations & Rational

    Question: Compare and contrast 'adaptive expectations' (Hubbard uses adaptive expectations)  and 'rational expectations' in modeling expectations. Answer:<