scholarly journals The term structure of interest rates and inflation forecast targeting

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-179
Author(s):  
Eric Schaling ◽  
Willem Verhagen ◽  
Sylvester Eiffinger

This paper examines the implications of the expectations theory of the term structure of interest rates for the implementation of inflation targeting. We show that the responsiveness of the central bank’s instrument to the underlying state of the economy is increasing in the duration of the long-term bond.  On the other hand, an increase in duration will make long-term inflationary expectations - and therefore also the long-term nominal interest rate - less responsive to the state of the economy. The extent to which the central bank is concerned with output stabilisation will exert a moderating influence on the central bank’s response to leading indicators of future inflation. However, the effect of an increase in this parameter on the long-term nominal interest rate turns out to be ambiguous. Next, we show that both the sensitivity of the nominal term spread to economic fundamentals and the extent to which the spread predicts future output, are increasing in the duration of the long bond and the degree of structural output persistence. However, if the central bank becomes relatively less concerned about inflation stabilisation the term spread will be less successful in predicting real economic activity.

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Nana Francois

Abstract This paper examines the effects of shocks to foreign official holdings of long-term U.S. Treasuries (FOHL) on macroeconomic aggregates using a dynamic general equilibrium model. The model treats short- and long-term bonds as imperfect substitutes through endogenous portfolio adjustment frictions. This provides a channel for changes in relative supply of assests to influence asset prices. Three key findings emerge: (1) positive shocks to FOHL impact the long-term interest rate and the term spread negatively through a stock effect channel – defined as persistent changes in interest rates as a result of movement along the Treasury demand curve. This result is consistent with findings in the empirical literature. (2) Through a feedback mechanism from an endogenous term structure in the model, the decline in the long-term interest rate induces an expansion in economic activity which leads to an increase in consumption, output and inflation. Both the stock effect and the feedback mechanism are generated by the portfolio frictions. (3) Higher degrees of persistence of FOHL shocks or imperfect asset substitution generate a prolonged negative stock effect following shocks to FOHL. This causes a longer delay of the term spread to return to its steady state after it falls; hence, inducing an extended and stronger stimulative feedback effect from the endogenous term structure into the modeled economy.  These findings help explain macroeconomic events such as the so-called ``Greenspan conundrum'' of the mid 2000s.


2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-103
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Aubry ◽  
Pierre Duguay

Abstract In this paper we deal with the financial sector of CANDIDE 1.1. We are concerned with the determination of the short-term interest rate, the term structure equations, and the channels through which monetary policy influences the real sector. The short-term rate is determined by a straightforward application of Keynesian liquidity preference theory. A serious problem arises from the directly estimated reduced form equation, which implies that the demand for high powered money, but not the demand for actual deposits, is a stable function of income and interest rates. The structural equations imply the opposite. In the term structure equations, allowance is made for the smaller variance of the long-term rates, but insufficient explanation is given for their sharper upward trend. This leads to an overstatement of the significance of the U.S. long-term rate that must perform the explanatory role. Moreover a strong structural hierarchy, by which the long Canada rate wags the industrial rate, is imposed without prior testing. In CANDIDE two channels of monetary influence are recognized: the costs of capital and the availability of credit. They affect the business fixed investment and housing sectors. The potential of the personal consumption sector is not recognized, the wealth and real balance effects are bypassed, the credit availability proxy is incorrect, the interest rate used in the real sector is nominal rather than real, and the specification of the housing sector is dubious.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 1159-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Caldas Montes ◽  
Cristiane Gea

Purpose The evidence concerning the effects of the inflation targeting (IT) regime as well as greater central bank transparency on monetary policy interest rates is not conclusive, and the following questions remain open. What is the effect of adopting IT on both the level and volatility of monetary policy interest rate? Does central bank transparency affect the level of the monetary policy interest rate and its volatility? Are these effects greater in developing countries? The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature by answering these questions. Hence, the paper analyzes the effects of IT and central bank transparency on monetary policy. Design/methodology/approach The analysis uses a sample of 48 countries (31 developing) comprising the period between 1998 and 2014. Based on panel data methodology, estimates are made for the full sample, and then for the sample of developing countries. Findings Countries that adopt the IT regime tend to have lower levels of monetary policy interest rates, as well as lower interest rate volatility. The effect of adopting IT on both the level and volatility of the basic interest rate is smaller in developing countries. Besides, countries with more transparent central banks have lower levels of monetary policy interest rates, as well as lower interest rate volatility. In turn, the effect of central bank transparency on both the level and volatility of the basic interest rate is greater in developing countries. Practical implications The study brings important practical implications regarding the influence of both the IT regime and central bank transparency on monetary policy. Originality/value Studies have sought to analyze whether IT and central bank transparency are effective to control inflation. However, few studies analyze the influence of IT and central bank transparency on interest rates. This study differs from the few existing studies since: the analysis is done not only for the effect of transparency on the level of the monetary policy interest rate, but also on its volatility; the central bank transparency index that is used has never been utilized in this sort of analysis; and the study uses panel data methodology, and compares the results between different samples.


Author(s):  
Uwe Hassler ◽  
Dieter Nautz

SummaryCritics of the Bundesbank's monetary policy recently suggested the abandonment of monetary targeting in favour of the term structure of interest rates as the main indicator of central bank policy. However, a term structure oriented policy requires a reliable link between short- and long-term interest rates. Our analysis clearly suggests that there is no stable relationship between German short- and long-term interest rates, in particular not after the German monetary union. Consequently, the empirical results of this paper indicate that this policy has not much chance of success.


Author(s):  
Efthymios Argyropoulos ◽  
Elias Tzavalis

AbstractThis paper suggests a new empirical methodology of testing the predictions of the term spread between long and short-term interest rates about future changes of the former allowing for term premium effects, according to the rational expectations hypothesis of the term structure. To capture the effects of a time-varying term premium on the term spread, the paper relies on an empirically attractive affine Gaussian dynamic term structure model which assumes that the term structure of interest rates is spanned by three unobserved state variables. To retrieve accurate values of these variables from interest rates series, the paper suggests a new method which can overcome the effects of measurement (or pricing) errors inherent in these series on the estimates of the model. This method is assessed by a Monte Carlo study. Ignoring these errors will lead to biased estimates of term structure models. The empirical results of the paper provide support for the suggested term structure model. They show that this model can efficiently capture the time-varying term premium effects embodied in long-term interest rates, which can explain the failures of term spread to forecast future changes in long-term rates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 50-64
Author(s):  
Kristina Nesterova ◽  

Introduction. The paper considers a wide range of monetary policy rules: integral stabilization, NGDP targeting, price level targeting, raising the inflation target, introducing negative nominal interest rates etc. The author also considers discretionary policy used by central banks when the nominal rate is close to zero, such as dramatic preventive cut of the key interest rate and interventions in the open markets with the aim of cutting long-term interest rates. The relevance of this problem is supported by global long-term macroeconomic and demographic factors, such as the dynamics of oil prices and the aging of the population. The aim of the paper is to identify the most effective monetary policy rules in order to reduce the risk of a nominal interest rate falling to zero. Methods. Analysis of the background and the results of general equilibrium models modeling monetary policy is carried out. Analysis of the role of current global trends (based on statistics) in aggravating the problem of declining interest rates. Scientific novelty of the research. The author systematizes the conclusions of modern macroeconomic theory, which offers a number of monetary rules making it possible to reduce the likelihood of falling into the zero bound of interest rate. Results. The effectiveness of monetary rules such as targeting nominal GDP and price levels in preventing the nominal interest rate from falling to zero is shown, primarily due to more efficient public expectations management which is a weak point of discretionary intervention. Conclusions. Under the current global factors for many developed countries and some oil-exporters, the downward trend in nominal rates persists. Combined with slowdown in economic growth, such threat may have negative consequences for the Russian economy. In this case, it seems reasonable to stick to the inflation target above 2% per year and in the future to consider switching to targeting the price level or nominal GDP.


Author(s):  
Oleksandr Zholud ◽  
Volodymyr Lepushynskyi ◽  
Sergiy Nikolaychuk

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of monetary transmission channels in Ukraine since the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) transitioned to inflation targeting and after the central bank established its new approach to monetary policy implementation. The authors conclude that the central bank has sufficient control over short-term interest rates in the interbank market and that it uses them to influence other financial market indicators. At the same time, further transmission via the interest rate channel is constrained by weak lending and the banking system’s slow post-crisis recovery. The exchange rate channel remains the most powerful avenue of monetary transmission. After the NBU switched to a floating exchange rate and an active interest rate policy, its key rate became a means of influencing exchange rates. The exchange rate channel’s leading role is expected to gradually decrease but remains important, as is typical for small open economies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68
Author(s):  
Sanjida Akter Chowdhury ◽  
Md. Yousuf ◽  
Md. Nezum Uddin ◽  
Mohammed Jashim Uddin

This paper pursues to establish a connection among the nominal interest rate, the money market, and the inflation rate in Bangladesh using monthly time series data from June 2005 to March 2019. Because some data are stationary at the level and others are stationary at the 1st difference, the ARDL model is applicable for checking the link. There is a strong positive short-term and long-term relationship between inflation and nominal interest rates, suggesting that Bangladeshi data support the Fisher hypothesis for that time. For this study, the T bill, the call money rate is used as a measure of the money market. The research indicates that regulators should concentrate on call money rates in short-term and T-bill and call money rates in the long-term to control Bangladesh's nominal interest rate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Haryo Kuncoro

Central bank communications play an important role in the monetary policy. In the inflation-targeting frameworks, central bank communications might guide public to shape inflation expectations and then determine actual inflation rates through which the policy interest rates policy would manage them. This paper studied the impact and central bank monetary policy communications on the policy interest rate. Unlike other studies, this paper uses two stages. First, we estimate the impact of central bank communication on the inflation expectation gap. Second, we use the estimated value of inflation expectation gap to predict the policy interest rate. The study found evidence that economic agents analyse the Governor Board of Central Bank of Indonesia meeting decisions every month to shape their inflation expectation. Therefore, the difference between inflation expectation and actual inflation tends to narrow. The inflation expectation gap affects the policy interest rates in Indonesia. In other words, the policy interest rates can control the inflation rate and anchor expectations as required by the inflation-targeting framework.


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