Monetary Policy Rules

Summary: Should we raise interest rates, lower interest rates, or keep them the same? This is the most difficult, yet the most important, question that Federal Reserve policymakers face. One decision could cause recession or inflation while another could cause continued economic expansion. Investors anticipate the Federal Reserve's decision as it affects bonds, stocks, and foreign exchange rates. This volume results from a un...ique cooperative research effort between nearly thirty monetary experts and policymakers from central banks and universities who evaluated different policy rules using a variety of techniques. Their striking findings on the potential response of interest rates to an array of variables, including alterations in the rates of inflation, unemployment, and exchange, illustrate that simple policy rules are more robust and more efficient than complex rules with multiple variables. A state-of-the-art appraisal of the fundamental issues facing the Federal Reserve Board and other central banks, Monetary Policy Rules is essential reading for economic analysts and policymakers alike. [read more]