We analyse optimal monetary and fiscal policy in a New-Keynesian model with public debt and inflation persistence. Leith and Wren-Lewis (2007) have shown that optimal discretionary policy is subject to a ''debt stabilization bias'' which requires debt to be returned to its pre-shock level. This...

The International Monetary Fund (henceforth "the IMF" or "the Fund") was conceived at a conference at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in July 1944 and its Articles of Agreement entered into force in December 1945. The World Bank (henceforth "the Bank") was set up at...

The current weakness in the global economy has generated a debate on the likely outlook for the world economy and the appropriate response for monetary policies. The world economy is currently being buffeted by a number of major shocks. A particular feature has been the large fall in equity...

In this paper we present two examples where the presence of inflation persistence could influence the qualitative nature of monetary policy. In the first case the desirability of a monetary policy regime comes under question when extensive inflation persistence exists. In the second case the...