Does the time inconsistency problem make flexible exchange rates look worse than you think?

Roc Armenter () and Martin Bodenstein

No 865, International Finance Discussion Papers from Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.)

Abstract: The Barro-Gordon inflation bias has provided the most influential argument for fixed exchange rate regimes. However, with low inflation rates now widespread, credibility concerns seem no longer relevant. Why give up independent monetary policy to contain an inflation bias that is already under control? We argue that credibility problems do not end with the inflation bias and they are a larger drawback for flexible exchange rates than usually thought. Absent commitment, independent monetary policy can induce expectation traps---that is, welfare ranked multiple equilibria---and perverse policy responses to real shocks, i.e., an equilibrium policy response that is welfare inferior to policy inaction. Both possibilities imply that flexible exchange rates feature unnecessary macroeconomic volatility.

Keywords: Foreign exchange rates; Inflation (Finance); Monetary policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba, nep-fmk, nep-mac and nep-mon
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Working Paper: Does the time inconsistency problem make flexible exchange rates look worse than you think? (2005)
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