Since 1990, a number of countries have adopted inflation targeting as their declared monetary strategy. Interpretations of the significance of this movement, however, have differed widely. To some, inflation targeting mandates the single-minded, rule-like pursuit of price stability without...

We study the characteristics of inflation targeting as a shock absorber, using quarterly data for a large panel of countries. To overcome an endogeneity problem between monetary regimes and the likelihood of crises, we propose to study large natural disasters. We find that inflation targeting...

Central banks often make announcements even though, in models in which dynamic time inconsistency of optimal policy plays a role, they have an incentive to lie. This paper studies the way inflation targeting affects the incentives the central bank faces in announcing its target inflation rate...

Central banks often make announcements even though, in models in which dynamic time inconsistency of optimal policy plays a role, they have an incentive to lie. This paper studies the way inflation targeting affects the incentives the central bank faces in announcing its target inflation rate...

This paper examines the value of direct communication to households about inflation and the uncertainty around inflation statistics. All types of information about inflation are effective at immediately managing inflation expectations, with information about outlooks being more effective and...

Independent central banks prefer balanced budgets due to the long-run connection between deficits and inflation and can enforce their preference through interest rate increases and denial of credit to the government. We argue that legal central bank independence (CBI) deters fiscal deficits...