Real-business-cycle models suggest that an increase in the rate of productivity growth increases the real rate of interest. But economic theory is ambiguous when it comes to the effect of government budget deficits on the real rate of interest. Similarly, little is known about the effect of...

"This paper summarizes recent developments in the theory and practice of monetary policy in a closed economy and explains what these developments mean for U.S. dollar policy. There is no conflict between what is appropriate U.S. monetary policy at home or abroad because the dollar is the world's...