This site is for archive purposes. Please visit www.eliamep.gr for latest updates
Go to Top

Animal spirits and the optimal level of the inflation target

De Grauwe, Paul, Ji, Yuemei, (2016), “Animal spirits and the optimal level of the inflation target”, Voxeu, 7 Ιουλίου

Low inflation targets can cause economies to hit the zero lower bound during deflationary periods caused by even mild shocks. In such circumstances, central banks lose their ability to stimulate the economy. This column assesses the risk of this happening using a model that endogenises self-perpetuating optimism and pessimism in the economy. Given agents’ intrinsic chronic pessimism during times of recession, central banks should raise their inflation targets to 3 or 4% to preserve their ability to stimulate the economy when needed.

Σχετικές Αναρτήσεις