Académique Documents
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Lecture notes by
Drago Bergholt, Norwegian Business School
Drago.Bergholt@bi.no
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1
Prologue ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2
Households ........................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1
Setup ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2
2.3
Firms .................................................................................................................................................... 11
3.1
3.2
3.3
Log-linearization ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
Equilibrium ......................................................................................................................................... 18
4.1
Market clearing........................................................................................................................................................ 18
4.2
The New Keynesian Phillips curve and the Dynamic IS equation ................................................................ 20
5.2
Shocks .................................................................................................................................................. 30
6.1
6.2
7.2
7.3
7.4
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 44
8.2
The simplest case A welfare loss function when real rigidities are absent ................................................ 44
8.3
8.4
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 58
9.2
9.3
9.4
II
9.5
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 69
10.2
Firms ......................................................................................................................................................................... 69
10.3
Households .............................................................................................................................................................. 70
10.4
10.5
10.6
Shocks....................................................................................................................................................................... 83
10.7
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 93
11.2
Households .............................................................................................................................................................. 93
11.3
11.4
11.5
11.6
11.7
11.8
11.9
11.10
Equilibrium The supply side: Marginal cost and inflation dynamics ....................................................... 109
11.11
The New Keynesian Phillips curve and the Dynamic IS equation .............................................................. 111
11.12
11.13
11.14
11.15
References .................................................................................................................................................127
Appendix ...................................................................................................................................................128
A.
Dynare codes A monetary policy shock with sticky prices ....................................................................... 128
B.
C.
Dynare codes A monetary policy shock with sticky prices and wages .................................................... 131
III
1.
Introduction
1.1 Prologue
These lecture notes take the reader through a basic New Keynesian model with utility maximizing
households, profit maximizing firms and a welfare maximizing central bank. I follow Galis
(2008) book as closely as possible. The notes were born during my participation at a couple of
PhD courses in monetary policy, taught by Antti Ripatti (Bank of Finland) and Krisztina Molnar
(Bank of Norway), respectively. Both courses built on the excellent book by Gali. The aim of the
notes is to provide the reader with all relevant calculations which are left out of the book. In
addition, the notes also go through equilibrium determinacy conditions in more detail, following
benchmark articles such as Blanchard and Kahn () and Bullard and Mitra (2002). Chapters 2, 3
and 4 characterize the basic New Keynesian model. I first analyze households, then firms. Results
are combined to establish general equilibrium. I derive a dynamic IS equation and a New
Keynesian Phillips curve. Determinacy and shocks are discussed in chapters 5 and 6. I perform
some welfare analysis of monetary policy in chapters 7, 8 and 9. Chapter 10 augments the basic
model with sticky wages in addition to sticky prices, following Erceg et al. (2000). Finally, the
small open economy model established by Gali and Monacelli (2005) is derived in chapter 11.
Dynare codes are provided in the appendix. A few words about notation: Variables in levels are
denoted with capital letters, logged variables with small letters. Percentage deviations are denoted
with small letters with a hat. Let us illustrate by an example: The percentage deviation in
from
Dynamic, stochastic, general equilibrium (DSGE) modeling: Agents behavior today affects
future environments. Agents know this and behave accordingly. Still, uncertainty arises
because at least some processes in the economy are exposed to exogenous shocks. General
equilibrium, in the sense that it incorporates all markets in the economy, is provided.
Monopolistic competition: Prices are set by private economic agents in order to maximize
their objectives, as opposed to being determined by an anonymous Walrasian auctioneer
seeking to clear all competitive markets at once.
Nominal rigidities: At least some firms are subject to constraints on the frequency with which
they can adjust prices of the goods and services they sell. Alternatively, firms may face some
costs of adjusting those prices. The same kind of friction applies to workers in the presence of
sticky wages.
While the first bullet point is a common feature in most modern macroeconomic models,
including those in the RBC literature, the last three are special ingredients in New Keynesian
models. Now it is time to present the basic model.
2.
Households
2.1 Setup
We will study households and the implications of market power first. Consider an economy
consisting of many identically, infinitely-lived households, with measure normalized to one. The
representative household has an instantaneous (and time separable) money-in-utility function of
the form:
(
(2.1)
is labor, and
of
To simplify the analysis, we also assume that the marginal utility of one specific element in the
utility function is independent of the level of other elements, i.e. that
A representative household maximizes lifetime utility, and discounts the future proportionally by
a factor :
{
)}
(2.2)
is the sum of consumption of all goods , and there exists a
(2.3)
]:
, where
is increasing in
and
) is
assumption about preferences. Given this assumption, goods become imperfect substitutes, a
feature which equips firms with market power.2 Households maximization problem is subject to
a one-period budget constraint:
In this setup,
and
The expression
(2.4)
is the number of bonds purchased last period, each yielding a payoff of one,
is the price per bond bought today.
represents
(
(
)
)
Equation (2.3) also nests free competition as a special case. In particular, taking the limit as
(2.3) becomes
.
approaches infinity,
total consumption
must choose the utility maximizing combination of consumption, labor and money. Let us find
the optimal consumption vector first. For a given level of consumption expenditures, say
s.t.
(2.5)
This problem can be used to derive an aggregate price index in addition to the optimal
consumption vector. Let us solve the problem:
(
FOC:
:
[(
The equality must hold for all goods, so the relationship between two different goods must be:
(
(2.6)
Alternatively, one can find the consumption vector that minimizes total consumption expenditures for a given level
of consumption. The two problems are equivalent and give identical results.
3
[ (
[(
Define
, that is
. Using
(2.7)
Thus, equation (2.7) can conveniently be defined as an aggregate price index. We will use it
throughout the notes. To find the optimal consumption vector, insert (2.6) into the expenditures
level equation. Then, insert (2.7) and solve for consumption of good :
[(
( )
(
)
)
(2.8)
( [(
( [
[(
(2.9)
Finally, we get the demand function for good by inserting (2.9) into (2.8):
( )
(2.10)
Equation (2.10) is the solution to (2.5), the first stage of a representative households decision
problem. Once the household knows prices and has decided on
consume of each good. The next step is to decide
)}
s.t.
(2.11)
Problems such as the one above are most often solved by using either Kuhn-Tucker conditions
or by dynamic programming. The results should be the same, of course. I will now show both of
these methods. First, the Kuhn-Tucker approach starts by setting up the Lagrangian. Let us go
through the steps:
)}
(2.12)
FOC:
:
(2.13)
(2.14)
(2.15)
(2.16)
From (2.16):
(2.17)
From (2.13):
{
}
(2.18)
(2.20)
Equations (2.18), (2.19) and (2.20) determine the intertemporal consumption allocation (the Euler
equation), the labor-leisure choice and the money demand, respectively. Together, those
equations determine the rational, forward-looking households allocation decisions. An alternative
approach to derive (2.18)-(2.20) from (2.11) is to use dynamic programming. Point of departure is
the observation that the structure of the households optimization problem in period is identical
to the one in period
beginning of period
as:
Third, assume that the budget constraint holds with equality and solve for
(
(2.21)
is treated as the state variable and
{ (
)}
(2.22)
Equation (2.22) captures the core idea of dynamic programming, as it already defines a necessary
condition any solution to (2.11) has to fulfill. The Bellman equation basically states that the
highest obtainable value of the decision problem in period , (
control
), is given by the
which maximizies the sum of current period utility and the discounted value of the
decision problem next period. The Euler equation for this problem states that the marginal cost
of allocating more wealth today is equal to the marginal benefit of allocating more wealth
tomorrow. It is written as:
(
(2.23)
The envelope theorem for the problem states that the marginal change in the value function
today from a change in total wealth must be equal to the marginal change in todays utility. This
optimality condition is written as:
(
(2.24)
(2.25)
Insert (2.25) into (2.23) and we get the following consumption Euler equation:
(2.26)
Further, we characterize the remaining optimality conditions using (2.21) and (2.1):
:
(2.27)
(
(2.28)
From (2.26):
(2.29)
From (2.27):
(2.30)
From (2.28):
(2.31)
Equations (2.29)-(2.31) determine the intertemporal consumption allocation (the Euler equation),
the labor-leisure choice and the money demand, respectively. Notice that they are identical to
(2.18)-(2.20), highlighting the fact that the households optimization problem should have the
same solutions regardless of solution method. To proceed we need to specify utility. As an
example, consider the following per-period utility function:4
(
(2.32)
( )
The Euler equation given by (2.18) or (2.29) writes:
{(
(2.33)
Gali (2008) excludes real money balances from the utility function, but instead imposes an ad-hoc log-linearized
money demand given by
, where is the interest rate elasticity in the money demand equation.
We will see soon that this is equivalent to setting
in (2.32).
( )
(2.35)
Finally, it is convenient to log-linearize (2.33)-(2.35). We denote small letter variables as the log of
large letter variables. With respect to the Euler equation, define the following:
. Thus,
a first-order Taylor expansion of the Euler equation around steady state yields:
(
)
(
)]
(2.36)
(2.37)
)]
(
[
[
(
)
)
]
)]
If we discard the constant term and assume an income elasticity of one, where this assumption
implies that
:
(2.38)
This ends the analysis of households in the New Keynesian model. We now turn to firms.
10
3.
Firms
and
is the labor force used by the firm. One key ingredient in the New Keynesian model is
price rigidity. When firms set their prices, they can do so freely. However, they do not know a
priori when the next opportunity to price change emerges. The probability of being unable to
change the price in any given period is . Thus, this is the fraction of all firms that is stuck with
the price they had last period while the remaining
is the optimal price set by firms who are able to reoptimize in that period, and ( )
level,
[
([
(
)(
]
(
)(
(3.2)
implying that
and
(
[
(
)(
)( )
)(
)(
)(
)( )
(3.3)
Equation (3.3) makes it clear that inflation results from the fact that firms reoptimizing in any
given period choose a price that differs from the economys average price in the previous period.
The capital stock is treated as fixed and investment is set to zero in the short run. These two specifications follow
McCallum and Nelson (1999), who argued that capital do not play a major role in most monetary policy and business
cycle analyses.
6 Remember the first-order Taylor expansion: (
)
( )
(
) where is the vector of variables
one wants to linearize around. Using this as a point of departure, it is often convenient to define a new variable as
the log deviation in
from :
. This implies that
, and the Taylor expansion can be
rewritten to a formula for log-linearization via Taylor series expansion: (
11
( )
Hence, in order to understand inflation over time one needs to analyze the factors underlying
firms price setting decisions.
3.2 Optimal price setting
Basically, when firms are faced with the problem of setting optimal price today, they must take
into consideration that this price often determine profit in the future as well, as the probability of
being stuck with todays price
will choose the price
periods ahead is
that maximizes current market value of the profits generated while that
price remains effective. The stochastic discount factor for nominal payoffs in period
is
(3.4)
))]}
s.t.
(3.5)
(
|
|
is thus
constraint into the profit function. We also insert for the discount factor. This gives us:
{
((
))]}
:
(
FOC:
12
((
))]
(3.6)
)]
|
|
(3.7)
)]
)]
)]
((
|
((
and
)(
((
to get the optimal real price as a weighted average of future real marginal
)
(
(3.8)
(3.9)
is denoted
13
The next step is to log-linearize (3.7) around the steady state. In a zero inflation steady state, we
must have that:
The last three identities follow from the zero inflation definition and from market clearing.
Before log-linearizing it is convenient to divide both sides of (3.7) by
(3.10)
This is just a simple first-order Taylor expansion. The first term is the LHS of (3.10) in steady state. The four last
terms contain the first derivatives with respect to ,
,
and
respectively, all evaluated in steady state.
14
)(
)(
)(
)(
)(
)]
[
)(
)]
10
The first term is the RHS of (3.10) in steady state. The four last terms contain the first derivatives with respect to
,
,
and
| respectively, all evaluated in steady state.
15
)(
)(
)(
)]
)(
)]
[
)]
16
)(
)]
)(
)
(
[(
]
)
[(
]
]
(3.11)
We see from (3.11) that firms will set a price that corresponds to the desired markup,11 given by
, over a weighted average of their current and expected nominal marginal costs, with
the weights being proportional to the probability of the price remaining effective at each horizon
.
11
Because
, we have that
17
4.
Equilibrium
(4.2)
Insert (4.1) into (4.2), and then (2.10) into (4.2), to get the aggregate market clearing condition:
(
{ [(
[(
(4.4)
(4.5)
( )
( )
[ ( )
18
( )
( )
(4.6)
(4.7)
up to a first-order approximation
. Recall the consumer price index
. Rearranging gives:
( ( )
[ ( )
because ( )
)(
)(
(4.8)
)(
) (
(
(
)
(
(4.9)
) ]
) (
) (
[ (
) (
19
) (
) ]
)
(
)
(
(
)
)
)(
(
)
)
)
)
) (
] (
(
(
) (
(
(
)
)
)
(4.10)
. This
implies that:
(
[ ( )
(4.11)
4.2 The New Keynesian Phillips curve and the Dynamic IS equation
Next, an expression for individual firms marginal cost as a function of the economys average
real marginal cost is derived. The latter is derived in (4.12), where we insert
from
(4.11):12
The nominal marginal cost by using labor is the wage . The nominal marginal gain is the income increase, that is
the price times the marginal increase in production by adding a little more labor. Thus, the real marginal cost is the
nominal cost relative to the nominal gain, i.e.
. Linearizing gives
. It follows
12
20
. Thus,
(
(
(4.12)
is:
|
(4.13)
Now, the market clearing condition and the demand schedule (2.10) imply that firm output is
|
.13
(
(
[
[
)]
)
(
)]
(4.14)
Notice that the last term in (4.14) disappears if there is constant returns to scale, i.e. if
Then
production level; it is common across all firms. We shall now derive an expression for inflation.
The point of departure is (3.11), which we rewrite to:
(
Insert (4.14):
(
(
(
Note that
(
(
13
21
and subtract (
Define
(
on both sides.:
) [
) [
[(
(
(
)
22
)(
(
)
):
)(
)(
)
)
) (
)(
(4.15)
Equation (4.15) expresses inflation as the sum of (discounted) expected inflation and real
(
)(
)(
to ease the
notation. It is clear from (4.15) that inflation is strictly decreasing in price stickiness , in the
measure of decreasing returns , and in the demand elasticity . An alternative presentation of
inflation is found by solving (4.15) forward:
{ [ (
be high when firms expect average markups to be below their steady state or desired level
In that case firms that have the opportunity to reset prices will choose a price above the
economys average price level in order to realign their markup closer to its desired level. Thus, in
the present model, inflation results from the aggregate consequences of purposeful price-setting
decisions by firms, which adjust their prices in light of current and anticipated cost conditions.
Next, a relation is derived between the economys real marginal cost and a measure of aggregate
(
Insert for
) :
(
)]
(4.16)
as the equilibrium level under full price flexibility. In this case (4.16) can be rewritten to:
(
(4.17)
(
(
)
(
)]
23
(
(
)[
(
(
)
)]
(4.18)
If we subtract (4.17) from (4.16) we get a measure of the real marginal cost gap
as a function of the output gap from natural output, denoted
[
[
)]
)]
(4.19)
Finally, the New Keynesian Phillips curve is established by inserting (4.19) into (4.15):
(
(4.20)
The New Keynesian Phillips curve (NKPC) is one of the key building blocks of the New
Keynesian model, and the parameter
is defined by
is the dynamic IS equation. If we use the definition of the real interest rate,
(
(4.21)
Subtracting (4.21) from (4.4) gives the output gap from the natural output, i.e. the dynamic IS
equation (DIS):
)]
)]
(4.22)
Equations (4.20) and (4.22) together with an equilibrium process for the natural rate
, which in
general will depend on all exogenous forces in the model, constitute the non-policy block of the
basic New Keynesian model. That block has a simple recursive structure: The NKPC determines
inflation given a path for the output gap, whereas the DIS equation determines the output gap
given a path for the exogenous natural rate and the actual real rate. To see the latter, assume the
transversality condition
(4.23)
24
Equation (4.23) emphasizes the fact that the output gap is proportional to the sum of current and
anticipated deviations between the real interest rate and its natural counterpart. To gain further
insight into the natural interest rate, note first that (4.4) implies
for
).
and use these two observations to yield an expression for the natural real rate. From
(4.22):
(
[ (
[ (
)]
(4.24)
Thus, the natural real rate is a function of households discount rate and expected technological
progress. In some cases it is convenient to work with deviations in the natural real rate from the
discount rate, which we define as:
(4.25)
Note that if one turns off technology shocks, the real rate becomes the discount rate. Once a
process for the technological progress is specified, one can identify the real interest rate path in
(4.24). In order to close the model, we supplement (4.20) and (4.22) with one or more equations
determining how the nominal interest rate
monetary policy is conducted. Observe from (4.23) that the equilibrium path of real variables
cannot be determined independently of monetary policy when prices are sticky. The output gap is
directly determined by the real interest rate gap, which is directly determined by the nominal
interest rate set by central banks. This important feature of the New Keynesian Model is in
contrast to classical models where monetary policy is neutral.
25
5.
Equilibrium determinacy
(5.1)
and
The first task when analyzing monetary rules is to check whether the specified policy yields a
unique and stable equilibrium. While doing this, it is convenient to work with a reduced form
representation of (4.20) and (4.22) who takes into account the policy rule under consideration.
We first derive a forward looking version of the dynamic IS equation. Insert (5.1) into (4.22), and
then (4.20) into (4.22). Solve the resulting equation for :
)]
(5.2)
Equation (5.2) shows the current output gap as a function of expected output gap, expected
inflation, and shocks. We next achieve a similar representation of current inflation. Insert (5.2)
into (4.20) and get:
{
(
)]}
)
(
)]
26
(
(
)}
)
(5.3)
Finally, the two equations (5.2) and (5.3) can be written as a system of forward looking difference
equations:
[ ]
][
][
[ ](
]
]
[ ](
where
(5.4)
[
[ ]
The system given in (5.4) is a reduced form representation of the dynamic IS curve and the New
Keynesian Phillips curve, which takes into account effects from the policy defined in equation
(5.1). The coefficient matrix
. We have defined
and
Following Blanchard and Kahn (1980), the system (5.4) has a locally unique equilibrium if and
only if both eigenvalues of the 2x2-matrix
necessary and sufficient conditions for this property to hold. The two eigenvalues, denoted
and
, are generally solutions to the following system written in matrix form, where is an
identity matrix:
|
]|
27
|
|
|
|
]
(
))
)
(
)
(
(
(
)
)
and
(
and
(5.5)
It is clear that condition (5.5), and consequently the first inequality, are fulfilled as long as
which we assume. Thus, the only relevant inequality is the second one, which we rewrite to:
(
|
(
(5.6)
We see from condition (5.6) that the equilibrium is unique as long as the policy parameters
and
have sufficiently high values, i.e. as long as monetary authorities respond to deviations of
28
at
inflation and output with adequate strength. Note also that our assumptions about the other
parameters imply that
principle. Let us give (5.6) some intuition. Suppose the economy is exposed to a permanent
change in inflation;
. From (4.20) we see that without any policy this leads to a permanent
version of (5.1):
)
. This implies that the change in
inflation should be met by a larger change in the nominal interest rate. Eventually this will drive
the real rate upwards and act as a stabilizing force. Thus, from (5.6) we see that when the central
bank responds aggressively enough to changes in output gap and inflation, i.e. when
are large enough, output is forced back to natural output and inflation back to zero.
29
and
6.
Shocks
):
(6.1)
monetary policy shock, leading to a rise (decline) in the nominal interest rate for given levels of
inflation and output gap. We want to find the contemporaneous effects of a monetary policy
shock
(6.2)
(6.3)
The coefficients
and
(6.4)
Then, insert the monetary policy rule (5.1) into the dynamic IS equation (4.22):16
[(
]
)
)
(
30
[ (
[ (
)[ (
)
(
)[ (
(6.5)
(6.6)
Finally, this means that the solutions to (6.2) and (6.3) are:
(
(6.7)
(6.8)
)[ (
as long as (5.6) is satisfied. Note that if we insert (6.1) into (6.7) and (6.8), we get:
(
)
(
Hence, an exogenous increase in the interest rate leads to a persistent decline in both output gap
and inflation. Because the natural level of output is unaffected by the monetary policy shock, the
response of output matches that of the output gap. Furthermore, (4.22) and (6.2) can be used to
obtain an expression for the real interest rate deviation from its steady state counterpart, the
natural real rate:
(
)(
The response on nominal interest rate combines both the direct effect of
(6.9)
effect induced by reduced output gap and inflation. From (6.8) and (6.9):
[ (
)(
(6.10)
rate, the policy shock still has a contractionary effect on output, because the latter is inversely
related to the real rate, which goes up unambiguously. Finally, one can use (2.38) and (4.3) to
determine the change in the money supply required to bring about the desired change in the
interest rate. From
31
(
[(
)[
[(
)[
[ (
(
(
)]
)]
)(
(
)]
)]
(6.11)
The sign of the change in money supply that supports the exogenous policy intervention is, in
principle, ambiguous. Note however, that
the money supply. Let us simulate the effects of a monetary policy shock. Parameters are
calibrated as follows:
Table 1
0.99
Setting
1/3
2/3
1.5
0.5/4
0.0625
4%.
= 1 and
quarters.
= 1.5 and
= 1.
0.5
=3
of 25 basis points. Simulated impulse responses are shown in the figure 1.17 Consistent with the
analytical results, it is seen that the policy shock leads to an increase in the real interest rate, and a
decrease in inflation and output. The latter two effects correspond to that of the output gap
because the natural level of output is not affected by the monetary policy shock. Under the
calibration given in table 1 the nominal interest rate goes up, though by less than its exogenous
component, as a result of the downward adjustment induced by the decline in inflation and
output gap. In order to bring about the observed interest rate response, the central bank must
engineer a reduction in the money supply. The calibrated model thus displays a liquidity effect.
Note also that the response of the real rate is higher than that of the nominal rate as a result of
the decrease in expected inflation. Overall, figure 1 shows dynamic responses which are
qualitatively similar to those estimated using structural vector auto regressive methods.
Figure 1: A monetary policy shock
17
Simulations are done with Dynare and Matlab. See Appendix A for the Dynare codes.
32
]:
(6.12)
. Given (4.25), the implied natural rate expressed in terms of deviations from
(6.13)
(6.14)
(6.15)
Insert (6.12) and (6.14)-(6.15) into the New Keynesian Phillips curve (4.20). Find an expression
for
(6.16)
33
Then, insert the monetary policy rule (5.1) into the dynamic IS equation (4.22):18
[(
:
(
) )
(
(
(
[ (
[ (
)[ (
)
(
)[ (
(
(
)
(
)
(
) )
(6.17)
)(
(6.18)
Finally, this means that the solutions to (6.14) and (6.15) are:
)(
(6.19)
(6.20)
)[ (
)(
)
(
)
)
)(
Hence, a positive technology shock leads to a persistent decline in both output gap and inflation.
To find the implied equilibrium response of output, decompose output into
. Then insert for
34
)(
)(
(6.21)
To find the equilibrium response of employment, insert for (6.21) into (4.11):
(
[(
)(
(6.22)
Hence, the sign of the response of output and employment to a positive technology shock is in
general ambiguous, depending on the configuration of parameter values, including the policy
parameters
and
Table 2
0.99
We assume that
1/3
2/3
1.5
0.5/4
0.9
= 0.9, i.e. that it takes some time for a technology shock to die out. Simulated
impulse responses are shown in the figure 2.19 Notice that the improvement in technology is
partly accommodated by the central bank, which lowers nominal and real rates while increasing
the money in circulation. That however is not enough to close the negative output gap, which is
responsible for a decline in inflation. Output increases, but less than its natural counterpart.
Figure 2: A technology shock
19
Simulations are done with Dynare and Matlab. See Appendix B for the Dynare codes.
35
7.
)}
[(
]}
s.t.
(7.1)
The constraint is the resource constraint coming from all the firms. Notice how all goods enter
the utility function symmetrically, at the same time as utility is concave in each good. Also, all
goods are produced with identical technology. Thus, by symmetry,
can never be
(7.3)
)}
(7.4)
)
(
(7.5)
From the firms problem in free competition we also have the following:
{
(7.6)
FOC:
:
)
(
(7.7)
20
Here we depart from the MIU-specification used previously in order to keep the analysis as simple as possible.
36
Thus, (7.8) is the relevant efficient benchmark monetary authorities should opt for. However,
there are two sources of inefficiencies built into the New Keynesian model setup. The first one is
firms market power, which allows firms to set prices individually instead of being price takers.
The second is staggered price setting, which prevent firms from adjusting optimally to shocks in
the economy in the short run. I will now study these two inefficiencies in turn.
7.2 Distortions caused by market power
Market power, which yields monopolistic competition, stems from the construction that each
firm perceives an imperfectly elastic demand for its differentiated product. This gives firms the
opportunity to set prices above marginal costs. Market power is unrelated to the presence of
sticky prices. To illustrate this, suppose for the moment that prices are fully flexible so that
. Firm s problem then becomes:
{
(
[
( )
(7.9)
FOC:
(
)( )
( )
( )
( )
)
)
37
( )
As before,
(7.10)
we insert (7.10) into the efficient allocation (7.8), where the first equality follows from the
optimality conditions of the household, we immediately see that:
(7.11)
Thus, the presence of market power not only leads to higher prices than optimal, but also an
inefficiently low level of employment, and therefore also of output. This kind of distortion to the
efficient equilibrium can be dealt with in a simple way by means of an employment subsidy. Let
denote the rate at which the cost of employment is subsidized, and let outlays associated with the
subsidy be financed by a lump-sum tax. If the subsidy is set to
(7.12)
The last equality follows from the assumption that the subsidy in place exactly offsets the
monopolistic competition distortion, which allows us to isolate the role of sticky prices. Insert
(7.13) into the efficient benchmark allocation (7.8):
(7.14)
Thus, (7.8) is violated whenever
stabilize the economys average markup to its frictionless level. In addition to the inefficiency
described above, staggered price setting is a source of a second type of inefficiency. The latter has
21
In much of the analysis below it is assumed that such an optimal subsidy is in place.
38
to do with the fact that relative prices of different goods will vary in a way unwarranted by
changes in preferences or technologies, as a result of the lack of synchronization in price
adjustments. Whenever
we also get
, and consequently
, which
violates (7.2) and (7.3). To cope with distortions caused by staggered price setting, one should
therefore opt for markups that are equal across all firms at all times. I will now analyze how this
goal can be achieved by monetary authorities.
7.4 Monetary policy solutions to equilibrium distortions
To keep the analysis simple, assume that in the last period,
had an efficient allocation at
, implying that we
stabilizes marginal costs at a level consistent with firms desired markup, i.e.
, given the prices in place. If that policy is expected to be in place indefinitely, no firm
has an incentive to adjust its price because it is currently charging its optimal markup and expects
to keep doing so in the future. As a result,
and, hence,
. In other words,
the aggregate price level is fully stabilized and no relative price distortions emerge. In addition,
, and output and employment matches their counterparts in the flexible price
equilibrium allocation with a subsidy in place. From (4.19) and (4.20) we immediately see that
(7.15)
(
)(
(7.16)
From the dynamic IS equation (4.22) we see that once (7.15) and (7.16) are expected to take place
indefinitely, the nominal interest rate becomes the natural real rate:
(7.17)
Two features of the optimal policy are worth emphasizing. First, stabilizing output is not
desirable in and of itself. Instead, output should vary one for one with the natural level of output.
Whenever real shocks cause natural output to fluctuate a lot, so should also output. Second, price
stability emerges as a feature of the optimal policy even though, a priori, the policy maker does
not attach any weight on such objective. The next step is to analyze how to implement (7.15) and
(7.16) in practice. Because (7.15) and (7.16) imply (7.17), one could think of (7.17) as a natural
candidate for monetary policy. Although one obvious equilibrium is
, we need to
whether this equilibrium is unique. Treat (7.17) as an exogenous interest rate rule and insert it
into (4.22). Combine with (4.20) to yield a system of difference equations:
39
[ ]
][
where
(7.18)
[
|[
]|
With respect to the two conditions necessary for smaller-than-unity eigenvalues derived by
LaSalle (1986), we get:
| |
and
|
circle. Thus, by the Blanchard and Kahn (1980) conditions, there exists a multiplicity of equilibria
because the number of eigenvalues inside the unit circle is smaller than the number of nonpredetermined variables. The zero output gap and zero inflation target is only one of them, and
there is nothing in the policy (7.17) that drives the economy back to the desired equilibrium given
by (7.15) and (7.16). The second policy rule we consider is an interest rate rule with an
endogenous component:
(7.19)
We first derive a forward looking version of the dynamic IS equation. Insert (7.19) into (4.22) and
solve for :
40
{
(
(7.20)
]}
)]
(7.21)
The two equations (7.20) and (7.21) can be written as a system of difference equations:
[ ]
[
[
][
][
where
(7.22)
[
condition (6.6) holds, which it does as long as one follows the Taylor principle
policy rule given by (7.19) yields a unique and stable equilibrium with
, the
. A last
(7.23)
Now, the monetary authorities adjust the nominal interest rate to variations in expected inflation
and output gap, as opposed to their current values. Insert (7.23) into (4.22):
[ (
]
(7.24)
]
)
(7.25)
41
[ ]
][
(
where
(7.26)
[
]
(
In our case:
|[
]|
Written out:
|[
]|
(
)
(
)(
)
)
)(
)(
(
)(
)]
)(
The inequalities from LaSalle (1986) which should be met by the two eigenvalues of
| (
)|
and
|
42
)|
If
(
(
(7.27)
is non-negative because
. If
(7.28)
(
[ (
[ (
(
If
(
)
)
[ (
]|
)
(
(7.29)
]:
(
]
)
]:
]
[ (
If
)|
(7.30)
Condition (7.30) turns out to be identical to (6.6). However, in this case the two conditions (7.28)
and (7.29) must hold in addition. We see from (7.28)-(7.30) that the policy responses should be
neither too weak nor too strong. In particular, from (7.28) and (7.30) we see that a very high
value on
be set to zero.
43
, then
could
8.
8.1 Introduction
I will now derive measures of the societys welfare losses caused by deviations in output and
inflation from their steady state targets. The result will be a quadratic loss function that represents
a quadratic second-order Taylor series approximation to the level of expected utility of the
representative household in equilibrium with a given monetary policy. First I look at the simplest
case where the only distortions in the economy are the presence of monopolistic competition and
sticky prices. Then I look at an empirically more appealing case where what one refers to as cost
push shocks exist.
8.2 The simplest case A welfare loss function when real rigidities are absent
The first case we consider is the one analyzed previously, where the government implements an
employment subsidy that removes the distortions caused by monopolistic competition. Thus, we
assume that the subsidy given by (7.12) is in place. This case will also serve as a methodological
framework for the welfare analysis conducted later. In order to lighten the notation, denote the
period utility as
following second order approximation of relative deviation in consumption from its steady state
counterpart, where logged consumption is approximated around logged steady state
consumption:
(
, so that:
and
. Using all
) leads us to
From (19) we see that utility is separable in consumption and labor, i.e.
simple and assume away money in the utility function.
22
44
(
(
(8.1)
Our goal is to find a way to express (8.1) in terms of steady state deviations only, that is with the
gap in output from natural output and the gap in inflation from zero inflation. The way to such a
representation contains several steps. First, note from (4.7) that:
(
[ ( )
[(
]}
)]
)
(
(8.2)
As before:
(
[ ( )
(8.3)
(
(
From
)
(
( ( )
, we have that
[
(
to good , we get:
( )
) ]
45
(8.4)
in
( )
( )
(
)
(8.5)
Finally, insert (8.4) and (8.5) into (8.3) to get the following second-order approximation of
(
[ (
{ [
(
(
[
(
)
)
)(
(
(
)
) ]
)
]
]
]
(8.6)
. The next step is to insert (8.2) and (8.6) into (8.1),
46
)] }
The notation
)] }
) ]
) ]
(8.7)
on the RHS of (8.7). From (7.5) we see that the undistorted steady state
equilibrium implies:
(8.8)
(
) , and
(8.9)
47
) ]
)(
[
(
[
[
) ]
) ]
)]
(8.10)
(
(
(8.11)
(8.12)
Insert (8.11) and (8.12) into (8.10), and write up a discounted sum of lifetime welfare losses as a
function of output gap from natural output and inflation gap from zero inflation:
48
)(
)]
)(
) [(
) ]
)
(
) ]
)]
]}
)
) ]
(8.13)
The final step consists in rewriting the terms involving price dispersion in (8.13) as a function of
inflation. Note that because a fraction
while the remainding
firms are stuck with last periods price, we can rewrite the expected price
Rewrite this:
(8.14)
Before proceeding, we refresh a simple, useful result from basic statistics. Consider a random
variable
( )
[(
( )
[(
) ]
[
]
[
[ ]
is given by
]
( [ ])
is the same as the mean of the square minus the square of the mean.
) ]
) ]
49
(8.15)
)(
) ]
(8.16)
)(
) ]
)(
)
(
)
)
Thus, if one takes the discounted value of these terms over all periods:
)(
(8.17)
)(
[
The parameter
) ]
) ]
)(
)(
)
(
is defined as
) ]
) ]
) ]
)
)(
(8.18)
)
) ]
(8.19)
50
Welfare losses are expressed in terms of the equivalent permanent consumption decline,
measured as a fraction of steady state consumption. The average welfare loss per period is thus
given by a linear combination of the variances of output gap and inflation:
[
( )
( )]
(8.20)
From (8.19) and (8.20) we see that the relative weight of output gap fluctuations in the loss
function is increasing in ,
parameters amplify the effect of any given deviation of output from its natural level on the size of
the gap between the marginal rate of substitution and the marginal product of labor, which is a
measure of the economys aggregate inefficiency. On the other hand, the weight of inflation
fluctuations is increasing in the elasticity of substitution among goods, , and the degree of price
stickiness, . The former amplifies the welfare losses caused by any given price dispersion, the
latter amplifies the degree of price dispersion resulting from any given deviation from zero
inflation. The optimal monetary policy in the case considered here achieves, as we saw earlier, the
flexible price equilibrium with zero output gap and inflation. This is referred to in the literature as
a divine coincident. However, such an allocation is rarely seen in practice. Most of the time,
monetary authorities face a real tradeoff between stabilizing inflation and stabilizing the output
gap. Typically, reducing inflation comes at the cost of a negative output gap, given an initial
equilibrium allocation. This observation gives us a motivation for the introduction of cost push
shocks.
8.3 Introduction of cost push shocks
I will now consider a world in which the central bank has to consider policy tradeoffs between
minimizing output gap and minimizing inflation. When nominal rigidities coexist with real
imperfections, the flexible price equilibrium is generally inefficient. In that case, there is no longer
optimal for the central bank to seek that allocation. On the other hand, any deviation of
economic activity from its natural, flexible price level generates variations in inflation, with
consequent relative price distortions. Now we assume existence of some real imperfections that
generate a time-varying gap between output and its efficient counterpart, even in the absence of
price rigidities. The resulting monetary policy under this environment is referred to as flexible
inflation targeting. We will first look at two alternative ways to include real imperfections in the
New Keynesian model. One is through variations in desired price markups. Assume that the
elasticity of substitution among goods varies over time according to some stationary stochastic
process
51
(8.21)
The only difference between (3.11) and (8.21) is that optimal prices in the former was determined
by
instead of
. The
Let us denote
)
(8.22)
as the efficient equilibrium level of output under flexible prices and a constant
markup , whereas
.23 Then, whereas (4.17) describes the real marginal cost in equilibrium with price flexibility,
derived directly from (4.16), the efficient marginal cost version of (4.16) now becomes:
(
(8.23)
Thus, whereas the real marginal cost gap previously was given by (4.19), it is now given by:
[
[
)]
)]
(8.24)
We define
[
[
)]
)]
(8.25)
Insert (8.24) and (8.25) into (8.22) to yield the following structural equation for inflation:
(
We still denote
as the equilibrium output with flexible prices, but this output level is now associated with a
time-varying price markup
instead of
as in (3.9). If the labor market subsidy previously discussed is in
23
place, then
52
(8.26)
( (
As long as
simultaneously zero inflation and an efficient level of activity. Thus, the disturbance
, which is
as a cost
(8.28)
[
(
)]
)]
(8.30)
Equations (8.26) and (8.30) constitute the New Keynesian Phillips curve and the dynamic IS
equation in this setting. The next step is to obtain a welfare loss function for this case such as the
one in (8.19).
8.4 A welfare loss function when real rigidities are present
At this point it is useful to distinguish between an environment with an efficient steady state and
an environment with a distorted steady state. The former is the special case in which the
inefficiencies associated with the flexible price equilibrium do not affect the steady state, which
remains efficient. Then
by definition, and the flexible price steady state does not involve
any markup for firms. One way to obtain such a steady state is to implement the employment
subsidy introduced in (7.12). The latter environment is the arguably less restrictive. Here, a steady
state distortion generates a permanent gap between the actual and efficient levels of output. Let
us first look at the case where the steady state is distortive, i.e. where
an efficient steady state follows immediately afterwards because the distortive steady state
outcome nests the efficient steady state. In the case of a steady state distortion, we introduce a
parameter
which represents the wedge between the marginal product of labor and the marginal
rate of substitution between consumption and hours, both evaluated at the steady state:
(
(8.31)
53
One example of such a steady state distortion is firms market power when the fiscal policy given
by (7.12) is absent. Comparing (7.11) to (8.31), this distortion would be given by:
(
) (
(8.32)
Even though the economy now is subject to real rigidities, the derivation given in (8.1)-(8.27)
remains unchanged because it does not involve natural or efficient output, only actual output.
The point of departure is therefore (8.7). Insert (8.32) into (8.7):
) ]
(
)[
)[
) ]
) ]
(8.33)
fluctuations in the output gap and inflation. This implies that the product of
order term can be ignored as negligible. Thus, we can rewrite (8.33) to:
54
and a second-
)[
) ]
) ]
)(
)]
]
(8.34)
The efficient level of output as a function of the technology level is derived in the same way as
we did with natural output. Instead of (8.11), (8.16)-(8.18) now leads to:
(
(8.35)
55
(8.36)
[
[
)(
)]
)(
) [(
) ]
)
(
) ]
)]
]}
) ]
) ]}
(8.37)
Finally we split the terms and make use of the result in (8.17), which is valid even though real
rigidities are present:
As before,
)(
[
{
(
[
) ]}
)(
)(
)
(
) ]
(
) ]}
) ]
) ]}
(8.38)
56
) ]}
]}
{ [
Here,
) ]}
) and
as earlier and
(8.39)
. The period losses write as:
(8.40)
Let us finally look at the case where the steady state is efficient, i.e. where
and
. In
this case (8.8) still holds, and therefore also (8.9). Thus, also (8.10) holds. However, the
definitions of and now implies that:
(
(8.41)
(8.42)
(8.43)
Equations (8.39) and (8.40) also nest the case without real rigidities. That is, when the steady state
is efficient (
and
), then:
It follows immediately that (8.39) and (8.40) then collapse to (8.19) and (8.20), respectively. Now
that we have derived the relevant welfare loss functions under different environment
assumptions, it is time to look for the optimal monetary policy.
57
9.
9.1 Introduction
In this section I characterize the optimal monetary policy given the second-order approximation
to welfare losses derived above. In the first case. i.e. the case with an efficient steady state without
real rigidities, it is straightforward to show that the optimal policy is to opt for zero inflation and
zero output gap in all periods. This is done by responding sufficiently aggressively to any price
change in order to keep zero inflation. The result should come as no surprise given the analysis
conducted earlier, where it was shown that a policy that seeks to replicate the flexible price
allocation is both feasible and optimal. With zero inflation output equals its natural level, which
in turn, under the assumptions made, is also the efficient level. Thus, under that environment, the
central bank does not face a meaningful policy tradeoff and strict inflation targeting emerges as
the optimal policy. In cases with cost push shocks however, we will see that there is a short run
tradeoff between zero inflation and zero output gap. In this environment the central bank should
allow for only partial accommodation of inflationary pressures in order to avoid too large
instability of output and employment. This kind of policy is often referred to as flexible inflation
targeting. One critical point is whether the agents in the economy believe that the central bank
will commit to its stated policy or whether they think the central bank will deviate in order to
achieve short run gains. If agents trust the policy makers statements, we typically refer to the
policy as policy under commitment. If not, we typically refer to the policy as discretionary policy.
This section studies the cases with an efficient steady state and a distorted steady state, both
under full commitment and under full discretion.
9.2 An efficient steady state under discretion
The approximated welfare loss function in the case of an efficient steady state is derived in (8.42).
Monetary authorities want to maximize (8.42) subject to (8.26) and (8.30). The problem reads as:
{
)}
s.t.
(9.1)
(
The forward-looking nature of the constraints implies that one must specify to which extent the
central bank can credibly commit in advance to future policies. With full commitment, the central
bank can credibly manipulate private sectors beliefs, and therefore commit to a policy that
58
influences private sectors expectations about the future. Full discretion on the other hand,
implies that the central bank cannot credibly manipulate private sectors beliefs, and therefore
takes expectations as given. In the latter case, the problem becomes a period by period problem
in time variables only. First I show the optimality condition under full discretion. The
Lagrangian is given by:
(
))
FOC:
:
(9.2)
(9.3)
(9.4)
(9.5)
Equation (9.5) states the optimal combination of output gap and inflation in a discretionary
setting. In the face of inflationary pressures resulting from a cost push shock the central bank
responds by driving output below its efficient level, thus creating a negative output gap, with the
objective of dampening the rise in inflation. This policy goes on up to the point where (9.5) is
satisfied. To derive an expression for the equilibrium inflation under discretionary policy, first
insert (9.5) into (8.26):
59
}
{
(9.6)
Insert (9.6) into (9.5) to get an analogous expression for the output gap:
(9.7)
Thus, under the optimal discretionary policy, the central bank lets the output gap and inflation
deviate from their targets in proportion to the current value of the cost push shock. One might
think that (9.6) and (9.7) could be inserted into (8.30) directly to derive a monetary policy rule.
Let us do that:
(
)
[
]
(9.8)
Combine the policy rule (9.8) with (8.26) and (8.30) to get a forward looking system. Equation
(9.8) into (8.30):
(
)
(
][
where
]
(9.10)
60
[
Note that
]
in (9.10) is identical to
multiplicity of solutions, only one of which corresponds to the desired outcome given by (9.6)
and (9.7). However, one can always derive a rule that guarantees equilibrium uniqueness. The rule
can be derived by adding a term proportional to any deviation in (9.6) into (9.8). Let us see how
this works:
(
)
{ [
[
(
(
(
)
)
]
}
)]
(9.11)
)
[
)
(
61
[ ]
][
[
]
][
[
]
)
)
where
(9.12)
[
]
(
is a special case of
in (5.4) where
analysis of (5.4) we know that (9.12) has a stable, unique solution as long as
. However,
following an interest rate rule like (9.11) is difficult because we do not observe the efficient
output level
that solves
))
)]
FOC:
:
(9.13)
(9.14)
(9.15)
(9.16)
. From (9.15),
. From (9.16),
. From
(9.14):
24
The law of iterated expectations is used to eliminate the conditional expectation that appeared in each constraint.
62
Combining
(9.17)
and
:
(9.18)
Equations (9.17) and (9.18) constitute the optimal combinations of output gap and inflation with
commitment. It is convenient to combine those two equations into a single expression. First,
define the log deviation between the price level and an implicit target given by the price prevailing
one period before the central bank chooses its optimal plan, as
(9.19)
[(
)
(
(
(
)
)
]
)
(9.20)
Equation (9.20) can be viewed as a targeting rule that the central bank must follow period by
period in order to implement the optimal policy under commitment. To find a solution under
commitment, note that relation (9.19) also holds for forward-looking variables. Thus, the New
Keynesian Phillips curve (8.26) can be rewritten, using (9.19) and (9.20), to:
We have defined
(9.21)
)
Since it involves a forward-looking variable, the stability requirement is that one of the roots is
above unity, and the other is below unity. To find the solution, divide both sides of (9.21) with
and evaluate the result one period backward:
63
(9.22)
and
, where
is the
) (
and
(9.23)
(9.24)
)(
)
(
Second, define
(
(9.25)
) . Then shift (9.25) one period forward and solve for :
Iterate forward:
( )
( )
(9.26)
( )
64
)(
(9.27)
Finally, insert (9.27) into (9.20) to get the output gap solution:
(9.28)
is:
The key difference between cost push shock responses under discretion and under commitment,
that is between the solutions (9.6)-(9.7) and (9.27)-(9.28), is that output gap and inflation are only
determined by current shocks in the former, while lagged variables are relevant in the latter in
addition to the shocks. Thus, under discretionary monetary policy the effect of a shock dies out
once the shock is gone, while the effect will persist even in succeeding periods in the case with
commitment. To see how this occurs, one can iterate (8.26) forward:
(9.29)
We see from (9.29) that the central bank can offset the inflationary impact of a cost push shock
by lowering the current output gap, but also by committing to lower future output gaps. If
credible, such promises will bring about a downward adjustment in the sequence of expectations
{
} for
. That is in the sense in which the output gap and inflation tradeoff is improved by
the possibility of commitment. Although this strategy comes at the cost of worse tradeoff in
succeeding periods, it is still better from a welfare perspective because of the convexity in the loss
function with respect to output gap and inflation. A feature of the economys response under
discretionary policy is the attempt to stabilize the output gap in the medium term more than the
optimal policy under commitment calls for, without internalizing the benefits in terms of short
65
term stability that result from allowing larger deviations of the output gap at future horizons. This
characteristic is often referred to as the stabilization bias associated with the discretionary policy.
9.4 A distorted steady state under discretion
Next we characterize the optimal policy when the steady state is distorted, i.e. when (8.31) is in
place. In that case, (8.26) and (8.30) become:
(9.30)
(9.31)
(
[ (
]}
s.t.
(9.32)
)
(
)]
FOC:
:
(9.33)
(9.34)
(9.35)
(9.36)
Equation (9.36) states the optimal combination of output gap and inflation in this setting. In the
face of inflationary pressures resulting from a cost push shock the central bank responds by
driving output below its efficient level, thus creating a negative output gap, with the objective of
dampening the rise in inflation. This policy goes on up to the point where (9.36) is satisfied. Note
that (9.36) is similar to (9.5) except for a positive constant term. Thus, for any given level of
inflation, the policy is more expansionary than that given in the absence of a steady state
66
distortion. To derive an expression for the equilibrium inflation under discretionary policy, first
insert (9.36) into (9.31):
Iterate forward:
{
)
(9.37)
Insert (9.37) into (9.36) to get an analogous expression for the output gap:
[
)
(
)]
(
)
(
)
(
(9.38)
67
Thus, under the optimal discretionary policy, the presence of a steady state distortion does not
affect the response of the output gap and inflation to shocks. However, the steady state
distortion has an effect on the average levels of inflation and the output gap in which the
economy fluctuates. In particular, when the natural level of output and employment are
inefficiently low, i.e. when
inflation as a consequence of the central banks incentive to push output above its natural steady
state level. That incentive increases with the inefficiency of the natural steady state, which
explains the fact that the average inflation is increasing in , giving rise to the inflation bias
phenomenon.
9.5 A distorted steady state under commitment
TBA
68
(10.1)
in period . In an analogous way to the optimal consumption vector derived in (2.10), firm s
demand for labor is given by:
(
(10.2)
[
], where:
(10.3)
In exactly same manner as we derived the aggregation result for consumption expenditures, one
can derive the following aggregation result for firms labor expenditures:
(10.4)
69
Denote
as the elasticity of
substitution between consumption goods. Then, the profit maximization problem given in (3.6)
writes as:
{
((
))]}
(10.5)
As shown in (4.15), the aggregation of the resulting price setting rules yields, to a first order
approximation and in a neighborhood of the zero inflation steady state, the following equation
for price inflation
(10.6)
(
and
)(
that when the average price markup is below its steady state value, firms that are adjusting prices
set them higher, thus generating positive inflation.
10.3 Households
[
)}
(10.7)
(10.8)
We now assume that households specialize in different types of labor, and therefore face some
monopoly power in the labor market given by
they are willing to supply labor services to firms who demand them, and, because of monopoly
power, this wage contains a markup. However, households also face a constraint with respect to
the frequency in which they can change wages. A constant fraction
with the wage they had last period, while the remaining
price of their labor services. Thus, a household who reset its wage in period will choose
in
order to maximize:
{
25
)}
(10.9)
We now depart from the money in utility specification we had in (2.1) to keep the analysis as simple as possible.
70
and
wage at time . Because of the wage rigidity, (10.9) can be interpreted as the expected discounted
sum of utilities generated over the uncertain period during which the wage remains unchanged at
the level
set the current period. Note that the utility generated under any other wage set in
the future is irrelevant from the point of view of the optimal setting of the current wage, and thus
can be ignored in (10.9). Maximization of (10.9) is subject to a sequence of labor demand
schedules and flow budget constraints that are effective while
|
remains in place:
(10.10)
and
|
|
employment at time
(10.11)
|
|
is the
Insert (10.12), and then (10.10) into (10.9) to get an unconstrained problem:
71
(10.12)
{(
)}
{(
([
{(
([
)] [(
])}
)] [(
])}
Thus, the households maximization problem when it comes to wage setting is described as:
{(
([
)] [(
])}
(10.13)
) [
)(
]}
) [
{(
) [
{(
72
)(
]}
]}
) [
Define
]}
) [
To solve for
)(
)]}
(10.14)
(10.10):
{(
) (
{(
) [(
Then take out the optimal wage of the expectation terms on both sides and solve for
)
{(
(
)
) [
{(
]}
(
)
| )
]}
(10.15)
)
|
(10.16)
Thus,
is the wedge between the real wage and the marginal rate of substitution that prevails
in the absence of wage rigidities, i.e. the desired gross wage markup. Note also that in a perfect
foresight zero inflation steady state we have:
(10.17)
In a similar manner as we log-linearized the optimal price equation (3.7) around steady state, we
now log-linearize the optimal wage equation (10.15). First, it is convenient to rewrite it to:
73
(10.18)
A first-order Taylor expansion of the LHS of (10.18):
(
) (
74
(
(
(
)
(
)
) [
(
(
)
(
)
(
)
)
(
)]
(
(
(
)
(
)
(
(
) [
)
(
)
)
)
)
)
)]
The last equality follows from (10.17). A first-order Taylor expansion of the RHS of (10.18):
75
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
(
)
(
)
)
(
)
)
) [(
) [
) [
)
(
)
)
)
)
)]
) [
(
(
)
(
)
(
(
)
)
)]
(
)(
)
(
)
) [
(
(
(
)]
)]
) (
)
)
(
)
76
) (
) (
)
)
) (
)]
)
)
We have defined
) (
(10.19)
marginal disutilities of labor in terms of goods over the life of the wage, because households want
to adjust their expected average real wage accordingly, given expected future prices. Without
money in the utility equation (2.32) becomes:
(
(10.20)
The assumed separability between consumption and hours, combined with the assumption of
complete asset markets, implies that consumption is independent of the wage history of a
household, i.e.
|
|
(
)
(
)
(
Let
)
define the economys average marginal rate of substitution, so
that:
(
, using that
(10.21)
is the economys
) [
(
(
) [
) [
) [
) [
]
]
77
) [(
) [(
)(
We have denoted
)(
(10.22)
steady state level. The next step is to derive the wage inflation equation. Given the wage setting
structure, the evolution of the aggregate wage index is given by:
(
(10.23)
A first order Taylor approximation around zero wage inflation steady state, followed by logging
the resulting equation, yields:
[
)
)
(
(
]
(
)(
)(
(
)
)(
(10.24)
) (
)(
is given by:
)(
(10.25)
)[
(
(
)[
)[
)
(
)
)
)(
(
)]
]
)
)
)(
(
(
(
)(
)
)
(10.26)
78
We have defined
)(
analogous to the gods price inflation equation (10.6). The intuition is also the same. When the
average wage in the economy is below the level consistent with maintaining (on average) the
desired markup, households readjusting their nominal wage will tend to increase the latter, thus
generating positive wage inflation. Here, (10.26) replaces condition
, one of the
optimality conditions associated with the households problem used earlier. The imperfect
adjustment of nominal wages will generally drive a wedge between the real wage and the marginal
rate of substitution for each household, and as a result, between the average real wage and the
average marginal rate of substitution. This leads to variation in the average wage markup, and
given (10.26), also to variation in wage inflation. The last dimension worth considering with
respect to households is the Euler equation. It becomes the similar as before because
, but because hours worked now depends on when the wage last was set, (2.18) writes as:
(
(10.27)
This expression is the exact same as before, i.e. identical to (2.36). Thus, the Euler equation does
not depend on wage rigidities in this setting.
10.4 Inflation equations and the Dynamic IS equation
I will now derive the price inflation equation, the wage inflation equation and the output gap
equation. Start with wage inflation. Let
output, with the latter now being defined as the equilibrium level of output in absence of both
price and wage rigidities. Define also the real wage as
output, employment and marginal productivity in their linearized versions are given by:
(
(10.28)
(10.29)
(
(10.30)
79
Use the fact that the natural real marginal cost is given by the identity
insert (10.28)-(10.30). Solve for
and
)
)
)
(
We have defined
(10.31)
and
. Insert for
(10.28)-(10.30):
(
(
(
(
)]
)]
)]
[
)
)
)
)]
)]
)]
)
)
(10.33)
Finally, insert (10.33) into (10.6) to get the New Keynesian Phillips curve:
(
(10.34)
80
Thus, increased output and increased real wage lead to higher price inflation. Next, the wage
inflation equation is derived. Given the utility function (10.20), marginal rate of substitution in its
linearized form is given by:
(10.35)
Thus, given market clearing in the goods market and in the labor market, the log deviation in the
economys average wage markup from its steady state counterpart, where the wage markup writes
(
as
, is given by:
)]
)]
)]
)]
)
)
)(
(10.36)
Insert (10.36) into (10.26) to get the New Keynesian Wage Phillips curve:
[
)]
(10.37)
With wage rigidity in addition to price rigidity, there is an identity relating changes in the real
wage gap to wage inflation, price inflation and changes in the natural real wage:
[(
)
)
)]
(10.38)
The last term in (10.38) is given by (10.32). In order to complete the non-policy block of the
model, equilibrium conditions (10.34), (10.37) and (10.38) must be supplemented with a dynamic
IS equation. Given (10.27) and market clearing in the goods market, aggregate output is given by:
(
(10.39)
(
(
)]
)
)]
(10.40)
and its deviation from the steady state are given as in (4.24) and (4.25):
81
(10.41)
(10.42)
(10.43)
The five equations (10.34), (10.37), (10.38), (10.40) and (10.43) constitute the New Keynesian
model with sticky prices and sticky wages. To gather them all into a forward looking system with
variables on the RHS,26 we first insert (10.43)
(10.44)
Equation (10.44) is the first row in the system. Second, we rewrite (10.34):
(10.45)
Equation (10.45) is the second row in the system. Third, we rewrite (10.37):
(10.46)
Equation (10.46) is the third row in the system. Fourth, we rewrite (10.38):
(10.47)
Equation (10.47) is the fourth and last row in the system. Thus, (10.44)-(10.47) can be written as:
[
[
[
[
][
or
where
(10.48)
Note that the structure of (10.38) is backward looking, so that the element associated with (10.38) in the LHS
vector of the system will consist of and the RHS element of .
26
82
],
],
] and
],
the assumption that the intercept of the interest rate rule adjusts one-for-one to variations in the
. An implication of that is that the allocation associated
with the equilibrium with flexible prices and wages cannot be attained in the presence of nominal
rigidities in both goods and labor markets. The intuition for the previous result rests on the idea
that in order for the constraints on price and wage setting not to be binding all firms and workers
should view their current prices and wages as the desired ones. This makes adjustment
unnecessary and leads to constant aggregate price and wage levels, i.e. zero inflation in both
markets. Note, however, that such an outcome implies a constant real wage, which will generally
be inconsistent with the flexible price and wage level allocation. Only when the natural real wage
is constant, i.e. when
technology shocks, and at the same time the central bank adjusts the nominal rate one-for-one
with changes in the natural rate, i.e.
, the outcome
is a solution
to (10.48). Another question of interest relates to the conditions that the rule (10.43) must satisfy
to guarantee a unique stationary equilibrium or, equivalently, a unique stationary solution to the
system of difference equations (10.48). Given that vector
variables and one predetermined variable, local uniqueness requires that three eigenvalues of
lie inside, and one outside, the unit circle. If
83
Table 3
0.99
1/3
2/3
3/4
and
1.5
0.5
0.0625
satisfied anyway. Simulated impulse responses are shown in the figure 2.27 Notice that the
presence of sticky wages and prices generates a much smaller inflation decline than with only
sticky prices (figure 1). The reason is that when wages are flexible, a monetary policy shock leads
to a large decline in wage inflation. Here, instead, since also wages are sticky, the inflationary
contraction is divided between prices and wages. As a result, real wage does not change much.
This in turn reduces the impact of decline in activity on the real marginal cost and, hence, the
limited size on inflation response. Thus, there is only a moderate endogenous response of
monetary authority to the lower inflation, implying higher interest rates, which in turn account
for the larger decline in output compared to figure 1.
Figure 3: A monetary policy shock
27
Simulations are done with Dynare and Matlab. See Appendix C for the Dynare codes.
84
Overall, the limited responses of price and wage inflation following a monetary policy shock
seem more in line with data than the large responses we found in figure 1. Also, the effect on the
real wage in figure 3 seems much more plausible.
10.7 Monetary policy design with sticky wages
The benevolent social planner seeks to maximize households utility, but this maximization is
subject to (10.8), (10.1) and (3.1). Thus, the maximization problem reads as:
{
(
{
)}
[(
]}
s.t.
(10.50)
The constraint is the resource constraint coming from all the firms, as in the case with flexible
wages. As before both consumption goods and labor enter the utility function symmetrically.
Thus:
(10.51)
(10.52)
The problem therefore simplifies to the one we had before, and the efficient solution becomes:
(10.53)
Thus, (10.51)-(10.53) are the relevant efficient benchmark equations monetary authorities should
opt for. However, optimal wage and price setting (when monopolistic competition is present in
both markets, but price and wage rigidities are absent) follows from (10.16) and (7.10), and
implies that:
(10.54)
(10.55)
As earlier one can get rid of the distortions caused by market power, and obtain the outcome in
(10.53), by imposing a labor subsidy financed by lump-sum taxes. In this case, the appropriate tax
is given by
(
85
(10.56)
Combining (10.56) and (10.54), we see that (10.53) is obtained, thus guaranteeing the efficiency of
the flexible price and wage equilibrium. Next I derive a second-order approximation to the
average welfare losses experienced by households in the economy with sticky wages and prices.
Point of departure is (8.1) integrated across households:
(10.57)
First, note that in terms of log deviations from a steady state and up to a second-order
approximation:
(
(
(10.58)
)
(10.59)
In order to proceed, a couple of results are needed. First, a first-order approximation of (10.2)
gives:
(
86
(10.60)
the notation
(
( (
, we have that
)(
. With
yields:
) ]
(10.61)
(10.62)
)]
)
(10.63)
The next step is to derive a relationship between aggregate employment and output. Using (10.2),
then (3.1), and then (2.10):
87
[ (
[ (
] [ (
[ (
] [ (
[ (
[ (
](
](
](
( )
(10.64)
(
We have defined
( )
and
then a second-order approximation to the relationship between log aggregate output and log
aggregate employment, we get an expression similar to (8.2):
(
[(
(10.65)
where
(
[ (
[ ( )
(10.66)
(10.67)
88
in
[ (
)
)
(10.68)
and
into (10.65):
]
(10.69)
Now we are ready to update the welfare loss function (10.63). Inserting for (10.69) gives:
{[
]
]
)] }
)
(
)(
89
[(
) ]
(10.70)
Throughout,
and allow for a distorted steady state. With this framework we can insert for (8.32) into (10.70):
[(
) ]
) [(
) ]
Using the assumption about a small steady state distortion, implying that we can neglect second
order moments containing
90
) ]
) ]
)]
Note that the expression above is the same as (8.34), except for the additional term with wage
dispersion. Thus, using (8.35) and (8.36), and aggregating over time using the discounting factor
, we get an expression analogous to (8.37):
)
{
) ]}
(10.71)
As before,
output gap from efficient output and its steady state counterpart. From (8.17) we know that:
)(
)(
(10.72)
91
) ]
)(
(
)
) ]
)(
) ]
) ]}
(10.73)
{ [
) ]
(10.74)
) ]
(10.75)
and
[
)
(
)
(10.77)
(10.76)
and
where
[
(
(
) ]
92
) ]
(10.78)
(10.79)
The variable
(11.1)
Home goods:
Parameters: ,
Aggregate
consumption:
Continuum of
foreign countries
Imported goods:
Parameters: ,
93
Domestic good :
Parameter:
Continuum of
foreign goods
Foreign good
country :
Parameter:
from
Figure 4 illustrates the goods structure which we shall specify below. The composite
consumption index is defined by:28
)
[(
The parameter
(11.2)
we
get the closed economy case described earlier. Trade restrictions imposed by governments,
geographical barriers such as distance and mountainous terrain, etc, is assumed to be reflected in
. The substitutability between domestic and foreign goods from the viewpoint of domestic
consumers is denoted
The parameter
(11.3)
is an index of imported
(11.4)
is an
index of the different goods imported from country , given by the CES-function:
(
(11.5)
(11.6)
is the stochastic discount factor for one-period ahead nominal payoffs of the
94
domestic household. As before the optimization problem can be dealt with in several stages.
First, for any given level of consumption expenditures on home goods, the household must
decide how much to buy of each. The utility maximizing combination of
which determines all the elements in
is the solution,
goods from each of the foreign countries. For instance, for any given level of consumption
expenditures on imported goods from country , the household must decide how much to
consume of each import good from that country. This determines the optimal combination of
, i.e. all the elements in
imported goods, the household must decide how much to import from each foreign country.
This decision determines the optimal combination of
. Third,
for any given level of total consumption expenditures, the household must decide how much to
consume of home goods relative to imported goods. This decision determines
and
Finally, the household must decide how much to consume and how much to work. This decision
determines
. As before, we get an aggregate price index and optimal demand for every specific
consumption unit at each stage in the nested system. For home goods, the aggregate price index
is given by:
(
(11.7)
The price index (11.7) follows from the CES-aggregator (11.3) in exactly the same way as (2.7)
follows from (2.3). The optimal demand for home good is:
(
(11.8)
In a similar vein, the aggregate price index for imported goods from country is given by:
(
(11.9)
(11.10)
The aggregate price index for all imported goods is given by:
(
(11.11)
(11.12)
Finally, the aggregate consumption price index (CPI) in the home country is given by:
95
[(
(11.13)
)(
(11.14)
(11.15)
Given the market equilibrium for all these aggregators, the total consumption expenditure is
derived in the same way as we derived (2.9) from (2.8) and (2.3). From the optimality condition
(11.8) and the domestic price index (11.7):
(11.16)
From the optimality condition (11.10) and the import price index from country (11.9):
(11.17)
From the optimality condition (11.12) and the aggregate import price index (11.11):
(11.18)
Finally, from the optimality conditions (11.14) and (11.15), and from the CPI index (11.13):
(11.19)
Thus, the left hand side of the period budget constraint (11.6) can be rewritten as:
(11.20)
Given the optimality conditions (11.8), (11.10), (11.12), (11.14) and (11.15)30, the household must
decide on the allocation of total consumption and labor. Analytically the problem is to maximize
(11.1) subject to (11.20). As before we specify the utility function to be:
(
(11.21)
To derive the Euler equation, note first that the budget constraint can be rewritten, assuming that
it holds with equality, to:31
96
on
the right hand side represents available gross income in period , while
the time investment in a portfolio with nominal payoff
in period
represents
. Thus, the
constraint above tells us that whatever income is left after the portfolio investment, is used for
consumption. The intertemporal problem for the household with respect to the optimal oneperiod portfolio purchase writes as:
{ (
)}
subject to
(11.22)
Here,
is the period
price of an Arrow security, i.e. a one-period security that yields one unit of domestic currency if a
specific state of nature is realized in period
is the probability
To solve (11.22), insert the constraints into the maximum. Then take the first order conditions
and find the optimal intertemporal allocation:
{ [(
[(
]
)
]}
FOC:
(
)
(
Taking conditional expectations on both sides, the Euler equation becomes the same as in (2.18):
{
(11.23)
97
The first order condition which summarizes the labor-leisure choice becomes identical to (2.19):
(
(11.24)
(11.26)
(11.28)
((
gives us:
) )
(11.29)
Similarly, log-linearization of the CPI (11.13) around the same symmetric steady state where
:
[(
]
[(
(
)
)
[(
[(
(
)
)(
[(
)(
)]
(
)
)]
)]
)
)
(11.30)
98
(11.32)
We see from (11.32) that the gap between domestic inflation and CPI inflation is proportional to
the percentage change in terms of trade, with the coefficient of proportionality given by the
openness index
domestic currency units one country currency unit is worth. As an example, the bilateral
nominal exchange rate between Norway and US could be
. Define
as the
price of country s good in terms of its own currency, for example the price of an iPhone ( ) in
terms of US dollars ( ). Assume that the law of one price holds for individual goods at all times
[
for both import and export prices.32 Thus, for all goods
] in every country
]:
(11.33)
Then, the law of one price implies that the Norwegian price on iPhone in terms of Norwegian
currency is
(11.9) gives:
[(
Here,
(11.34)
(
country currency, i.e. country s domestic price index. Thus, (11.34) is the law of one price at
the country level where
to
32
This law loosely states that the relative price on a good is equal to the nominal exchange rate, i.e. that
in Norway as
99
( (
(11.35)
The (log) domestic price index for country expressed in terms of it own currency is denoted
distinction between CPI and domestic price level, nor between their corresponding inflation
rates. Insert (11.35) into (11.29):
(11.36)
Equation (11.36) expresses the terms of trade as a linear function of the effective nominal
exchange rate, the world price and the price on domestically produced goods. Next, define the
bilateral exchange rate between the home country and country , i.e. the ratio of the two
countries CPIs, both expressed in terms of domestic currency, as:
(11.37)
In logs:
(11.38)
Then, let the (log) effective real exchange rate be:
(11.39)
(
(
(11.40)
Notice that the last equality holds only up to a first order approximation when
100
(11.41)
{(
{(
{(
:
{(
{(
)
)
{(
(11.42)
{
relative net asset positions. Without loss of generality, assume symmetric initial conditions, i.e.
zero net foreign asset holdings and an ex-ante identical environment. This implies
. Taking logs of both sides of (11.42):
(11.43)
Equation (11.43) is at the household level. Note that world consumption is given by
Integrating (11.43) over all and using (11.39) and (11.40) yields:
(
(11.44)
Thus, the assumption of complete markets at the international level leads to a simple relationship
linking domestic consumption with world consumption and the terms of trade, where relative
home consumption to world consumption is given by
101
and
. The budget
(11.45)
The optimality conditions with respect to these assets are:
{
(11.46)
(11.47)
{
{
}
(11.48)
(11.49)
This is the familiar uncovered interest rate parity equation, which states that the nominal interest
rate at home is equal to the world nominal interest rate plus expected rate of depreciation of the
home currency. Now, from (11.36) we have that:
)
(
(11.50)
Given that the terms of trade are pinned down uniquely in the perfect foresight steady state, and
given the assumptions of stationarity in the models driving forces and unit relative prices in
steady state, it follows that
(
{(
[(
)
)
}
(
)]}
(11.51)
Equation (11.51) expresses the terms of trade as the expected sum of real interest rate
differentials between the world market and the home market.
11.7 Firms and technologies
Now we turn to the supply side of the economy. Because domestic firms take the business
environment as given, including state of affairs in foreign economies, the individual firm still only
102
takes into account its own marginal cost. Assume that a typical firm in the home economy
produces a differentiated good with linear technology represented by the production function:
(11.52)
Assume that an employment subsidy identical to the one in (7.12) is in place. From (4.11), using
CRS, we get
and
setting behavior is identical to the one described in the closed economy case. As in (3.11) the
optimal price is:33
(
(11.54)
The log of the gross markup, or equivalently, the equilibrium markup in the flexible price
economy, is denoted
(11.55)
, and country s demand for good produced in the home economy is denoted
. Due to
the nested structure one can express demand in sub-markets in terms of total demand by
combining all demand functions from each level. For instance, insert (11.14) into (11.8) and get:
(
)(
(11.56)
Furthermore, the demand for domestically produced good in country is expressed by nesting
up across different demand layers in country . First, note that the consumption of domestically
produced good in country is a function of country s consumption of goods produced in the
home economy, given as in (11.8):
(
Second, note that country s consumption of goods produced in the home economy is a
function of country s consumption of foreign goods, given as in (11.12):
(
33
103
Third, note that consumption of imported goods in country is a function of total consumption
in that country, given as in (11.15):
(
Combining all these yields the demand for domestically produced good in country as a
function of total consumption in that country:
(
(11.57)
Thus, we can insert (11.56) and (11.57) into (11.55) and get:
(
)(
[(
)
)(
)
(
(
)
)
]
(11.58)
(11.59)
104
((
[(
)(
])
}
[ (
] [(
)(
}
[ (
[(
)(
[(
)(
)(
[(
[(
)(
105
)(
(11.60)
Next, factorize out the elements in the integral and insert for (11.37):
(
)(
)(
)(
)(
[(
(11.61)
[(
from (11.42):
(
[(
[(
[(
(11.63)
[(
]
(11.64)
106
(
[
)
)
)(
)]
)]
(11.65)
(
Note that
)(
is reasonable because
]. A condition
analogous to (11.65) will hold for all countries. Thus, for a generic country it can be rewritten as
. By aggregating over all countries, a world market clearing condition can be
derived as:
(11.66)
yields:
(
(11.67)
Note that
(11.68)
Thus, the IS equation is similar to the one in a closed economy except that now there is an
additional term linking domestic output to the international environment. An alternative
representation including domestic goods inflation is found by inserting (11.32) into (11.68):
(
}
(
)
)
)(
)
(11.69)
Note that
(
107
if
and
from
(11.67):
(
(
)
Use that
(
)
)]
(
and
(
)]
(
(
)
(
)
)
)
(11.70)
influences the sensitivity of output to any given change in the domestic real rate
(
(
(
)
(
)}
)
)
{(
and
)
(
)(
sensitive to real rate changes than in the closed economy case. The reason is the direct negative
108
effect of an increase in the real rate on aggregate demand and output is amplified by the induced
real appreciation and the consequent switch of expenditure toward foreign goods. This will be
partly offset by any increase in CPI inflation relative to domestic inflation induced by the
expected real depreciation, which would dampen the change in the consumption based real rate,
, which is the one ultimately relevant for aggregate demand, relative to
and
[(
)]
The last equality follows from (11.30). To get an even simpler expression, insert for
from
(11.65):
(
(11.72)
,
)(
. More generally,
the sign of the relationship between the terms of trade and net export is ambiguous, depending
on the relative size of ,
and
11.10 Equilibrium The supply side: Marginal cost and inflation dynamics
As before market clearing in the labor market requires that:
(11.73)
109
(11.74)
(11.75)
(11.76)
where
(
)(
and
The real marginal cost is now derived from (11.53). Insert (11.25) and (11.30):
(
Next, insert (11.44) and (11.75) and make use of world market equilibrium:
(
)
(
)
(
(11.77)
Thus, we see that the real marginal cost is increasing in terms of trade and the world output.
These variables end up influencing the real wage through the wealth effect on labor supply
resulting from their impact on domestic consumption. In addition, changes in the terms of trade
have a direct effect on the product wage for any given level of consumption wage. The influence
of technology (through its direct effect on labor productivity) and of domestic output (through
its effect on employment and, hence, the real wage for given output) is analogous to what we get
in the closed economy setting described in (4.16). Finally we can use (11.67) to insert for
(
:
(11.78)
From (11.78) we see that domestic output affects marginal costs through its impact on
employment (captured by ) and the terms of trade (captured by
degree of openness and the substitutability between domestic and foreign goods). World output
on the other hand, affects marginal costs through its effect on consumption (and hence, the real
wage as captured by ) and the terms of trade (captured by
marginal costs is positive if
This is because with sufficiently high
, that is if
and
)(
absorb the change in relative supplies is small, with its negative effect on marginal costs more
than offset by the positive effect from a higher real wage. What about the natural level of output
110
, i.e. the output when prices are flexible? We know from earlier that in this case,
(11.79)
)
(
(11.80)
Here,
, and
natural output is ambiguous, depending on the effect of world output on domestic marginal
costs, which in turn depends on the relative importance of the terms of trade effect discussed
above.
11.11 The New Keynesian Phillips curve and the Dynamic IS equation
In this section I set up a canonical representation of the small open economy version of the basic
New Keynesian model. First we denote
price output. Second, if we subtract (11.79) from (11.78) the real marginal cost gap emerges:
)
[
)
)
) ]
(11.81)
Then insert (11.81) into (11.76) to get the New Keynesian Phillips curve for the small open
economy:
(
(11.82)
Note that (11.82) nests the special case of a closed economy because
implies that
and then (11.82) becomes identical to (4.20). In general, the relation between the degree
of openness parameter
. If
(i.e. if
and
increase in the openness will make domestic inflation less responsive to a change in the output
gap. On the other hand, if
111
responsive to output gap changes. To derive the open economy dynamic IS equation (DIS) we
have to do some additional steps. First, note that the real interest rate is defined as:
Using this, (11.70) can be written as:
(
)
(
In a similar vein, the natural output is given as a function of the natural real interest rate:
(
(11.83)
)
)
]
]
(11.84)
Equations (11.82) and (11.84), together with an equilibrium process for the natural real rate
constitute the non-policy block of the small open economy version of the New Keynesian model.
The natural real rate can be extracted from (11.84), but first one should note that (11.70) implies
that:
(
112
[ (
[(
)]
)]
)
(
(11.85)
Thus, we see that the New Keynesian Phillips curve and the DIS equation in the small open
economy equilibrium is similar to the counterparts in the closed economy. A couple of
differences appear however. First, the degree of openness influences the sensitivity of the output
gap to interest rate changes. Second, openness generally makes the natural real interest rate
depend on expected world output growth, in addition to domestic productivity. Finally, it is
convenient to define the real rate gap as:
(11.86)
As in the closed economy case the real rate converges to the discount rate once technology
shocks and world output growth is turned off. Note however, that the real rate will typically by
higher than the discount rate because the world experiences a positive growth on average.
11.12 Equilibrium determinacy
In order to close the model one must specify a monetary policy rule. Suppose the central bank
follows an interest rate rule of the form:
where
(11.87)
is a monetary policy shock. To set up the equilibrium system we first insert (11.87) and
113
]
(
)
(
(11.88)
Equation (11.88) is the reduced form version of the DIS equation, and shows the current output
gap as a function of expected output gap, expected domestic inflation, and shocks. We next
achieve a similar representation of current inflation. Insert (11.88) into (11.82) and solve the
resulting equation for
)]
(
)
(
114
(11.89)
The equilibrium dynamics above is represented as a system of difference equations, and is written
in matrix form as:
[
](
[
[
][
][
](
where
(11.90)
[
[
We have defined
representation of the dynamic IS curve and the New Keynesian Phillips curve, which takes into
account effects from the monetary policy defined in (11.87). The Blanchard and Kahn (1980)
conditions state that the system (11.90) has a locally unique equilibrium if and only if both
eigenvalues of the 2x2-matrix
characteristic equation:
|
(
(
]|
))
)
(
)
(
(
(
115
)
)
and
(
, then
and
are sufficiently
undetermined coefficients and guess that the solution takes the form:
(11.92)
(11.93)
(11.94)
116
)[
We have defined
)
(
](
]
)[
(11.95)
)
)
(11.96)
(11.97)
(11.98)
(11.99)
(11.100)
Thus, a positive monetary policy shock gives a decline in both the output gap and domestic
inflation. Further, it can be shown that
given monetary policy shock will have a larger impact in the small open economy than its closed
economy counterpart. The response on the real interest rate is found by inserting (11.97)-(11.98)
into the policy rule (11.87):34
(
)]
(11.101)
Note that we look at the effect on the nominal interest rate, not at the interest rate level. Thus, the constant
not part of the expression.
34
117
is
The sign of the response of the nominal interest rate is ambiguous and depends on parameter
values. The response of the real interest rate:
(
[
)
[(
)]
)]
(11.102)
(11.103)
Thus, a monetary contraction leads to an improvement in the terms of trade, i.e. a decrease in the
relative price on foreign goods. Using (11.36) we find the effect on the change in the nominal
exchange rate:
(
[(
)
)
(11.104)
Thus, a monetary contraction leads to a nominal exchange rate appreciation. Using (11.40) we
find the effect on the effective real exchange rate:
(
(11.105)
Thus, the effective real exchange rate appreciates as well. Using (291) we find the effect on net
exports:
(
(11.106)
The sign on the response of net exports to a monetary contraction is negative whenever
implies that:
( )
(11.107)
118
Furthermore, when
[(
[(
(11.109)
)}
subject to
(11.110)
It is useful the make the problem simpler by getting rid of some constraints. Insert (11.107) into
(11.109) and combine with (11.66), which states that
(11.111)
Finally, to achieve an consumption expression useful to the social planner we insert (11.52) into
(11.111) and use that the optimal allocation implies
(
(11.112)
The period optimization problem of the social planner now becomes a problem in
{
)}
[(
FOC:
119
]}
only:
(11.113)
)(
(11.114)
, the LHS of
(11.114) becomes:
(
(11.115)
Thus, the optimal employment is constant. From home firms optimization problem in flexible
price, free competition, we also have the following:
{
(11.116)
FOC:
:
(11.117)
From (11.114) and (11.117) we get the optimal allocation of domestic quantities in the economy:
(
(11.118)
As a comparison, let us first study the distortion in a market equilibrium where firms have
monopolistic power, but where prices are flexible. This is what we refer to as the natural
equilibrium (illustrated by top script ). Home firms maximization problem follows from firm
production (11.52), the demand for home good , given by (11.8), the aggregated version of
(11.52), and finally market clearing conditions. We know from the closed economy case that
monopolistic competition yields a distorted equilibrium which, in the absence of sticky prices,
can be fixed by a labor subsidy. Thus, we also add the labor subsidy with size yet to be
determined:
120
{
(
}
(
}
(
(11.119)
FOC:
(
)(
(
(
(11.120)
If we insert (11.115) to get the social planners solution, the optimal subsidy is found as:
(
) [(
]
(
)(
)
(
(11.121)
implies a wage tax as the optimal fiscal policy instead of the subsidy. As in the closed economy,
the optimal monetary policy requires stabilizing the output gap, i.e.
Phillips curve given by (11.82) the implies that
consideration, (strict) domestic inflation targeting (DIT) is indeed the optimal policy. From the
dynamic IS equation (11.84) we see that
implies
variables matching their natural levels at all times. As discussed earlier, an interest rate rule of the
121
form
is associated with an indeterminate equilibrium, and hence, does not guarantee that
the outcome of full price stability is attained. However, the central bank can get to the desired
outcome if it commits to a rule of the form:
(11.122)
where
(
Under strict domestic inflation targeting, the behavior of real variables in the small open
economy corresponds to the one that would be observed in the absence of nominal rigidities.
Hence, from (11.80), that is
(where
, and
)
(
Because
[ (
]
}
)
)
(11.123)
, an
increase in world output generates an improvement in the terms of trade, (i.e. a real appreciation),
given domestic technology. Because domestic prices are fully stabilized under DIT, it follows
from (11.36) that it can be written as:
(11.124)
122
Thus, the nominal exchange rate moves one for one with the natural terms of trade and inversely
with the price level. Assuming constant world prices, the nominal exchange rate will inherit all
the statistical properties of the natural terms of trade. Accordingly, the volatility of the nominal
exchange rate under DIT will be proportional to the volatility of the gap between the natural level
of domestic output, which in turn is related to productivity, and world output. In particular, the
nominal exchange rate volatility will tend to be low when domestic natural output displays a
strong positive comovement with world output. When that comovement is low or even negative,
possibly because of a large idiosyncratic componenent in domestic productivity, the volatility of
the terms of trade and the nominal exchange rate under DIT will be enhanced. The implied
equilibrium process for the CPI can also be derived, by substituting (11.124) into (11.30):
(
(11.125)
Thus, it is seen that under the DIT regime, the CPI level will also vary with the natural terms of
trade and will inherit its statistical properties. If the economy is very open, and if domestic
productivity and hence, the natural level of domestic output, is not much synchronized with
world output, CPI prices could potentially be highly volatile, even if the domestic price level is
constant. One lesson from this analysis is that potentially large and persistent fluctuations in the
nominal exchange rate, as well as in some inflation measures like the CPI, are not necessarily
undesirable, nor do they acquire a policy response aimed at dampening such fluctuations. Instead,
and especially for an economy that is very open and subject to large idiosyncratic shocks, those
fluctuations may be an equilibrium consequence of the adoption of an optimal policy, as
illustrated by the model above.
11.15 Welfare losses
In the following I will derive a welfare loss function for the special case with log utility and unit
elasticity of substitution between goods of different origin, i.e. for:
With log consumption, a derivation similar to the one who previously lead to (8.1) now gives:
(
(
(
)
)
123
(11.126)
A few results are needed to proceed. First, notice that in the special case considered here, (11.67)
can be rewritten to:
where I have used that the parameter restrictions above implies:
(
(
(
)(
)(
)(
)
)
(
(11.127)
((
(
)
(11.128)
stands for terms independent of policy as usual. The next step is to rewrite as a function
of the output gap and price dispersion. From the production function (11.52),
. Thus,
using (11.8), market clearing in the labor market and the goods market requires:
[ (
(11.129)
(11.129) and (11.130), the employment gap from steady state employment writes as:
124
(11.131)
[(
(
)
)
) ]
(
) ]
)
(
[
)[
)(
) ]
)(
) ]
) ]
)]
]
(11.132)
To proceed, note that with CRS and the parameter restrictions above, (4.18) becomes:
(
(
)[
(
)]
Thus, from the definition of the natural output gap from its steady state counterpart, the
technology level, which previously was specified in (8.11), now satisfies:
(11.133)
)(
)]
)(
)(
)(
) ]
) ]
) ]
)]
]
(11.134)
The last line follows from (8.12). When we take the sum over all discounted periods and make
use of (8.17):
125
The parameter
)(
)(
[
)(
(
[
)
) ]
) ]
) ]
(11.135)
approximation to the utility losses of the domestic representative consumer resulting from
deviations in optimal policy, expressed as a fraction of steady state consumption, as:
) ]
(11.136)
any policy that deviates from strict inflation targeting can be written in terms of the variances of
inflation and the output gap:
[
( )]
(11.137)
Text
126
References
Blanchard and Kahn ()
Bullard and Mitra (2002)
Erceg et al. (2000)
Gali, Jordi (2008), Monetary Policy, Inflation and the Business Cycle. Oxford: Princeton University
Press.
Gali, Jordi and Monacelli Tommasso (2005), Monetary Policy and Exchange Rate Volatility in a
Small Open Economy. Review of Economic Studies 72(707-734)
Hamilton (1994)
LaSalle (1986)
Molnar, (2011)
Ripatti, Antti (2011)
Sydster (2006)
Woodford ()
127
Appendix
A.
128
//-----------------------------------------//
Steady State
//-----------------------------------------check;
//-----------------------------------------//
Shocks
//-----------------------------------------shocks;
var eps_v = 0.0625;
var eps_a = 0;
end;
tech = 0;
policy = 1;
//-----------------------------------------//
Computation
//-----------------------------------------stoch_simul(irf=12);
//stoch_simul(periods=1000,irf=12);
//-----------------------------------------//
Plots
//-----------------------------------------if policy==1;
// Gali's figure 3.1
figure(2); clf;
subplot(3,2,1); plot(y_eps_v, '-o'); title('Output gap');
subplot(3,2,2); plot(4*pi_eps_v, '-o'); title('Inflation');
subplot(3,2,3); plot(4*i_eps_v, '-o'); title('Nominal interest rate');
subplot(3,2,4); plot(4*i_eps_v(1:end-1)-4*[pi_eps_v(2:end)], '-o');
title('Real interest rate');
subplot(3,2,5); plot(4*(m_r_eps_v-[0;m_r_eps_v(1:end-1)]), '-o');
title('Real money growth');
subplot(3,2,6); plot(v_eps_v, '-o'); title('v');
end;
if tech==1;
// Gali's figure 3.2
figure(2); clf;
subplot(4,2,1); plot(y_eps_a); title('Output gap');
subplot(4,2,2); plot(4*pi_eps_a); title('Inflation');
subplot(4,2,3); plot(Y_eps_a); title('Output');
subplot(4,2,4); plot(n_eps_a); title('Employment');
subplot(4,2,5); plot(4*i_eps_a); title('Nominal interest rate');
subplot(4,2,6); plot(4*rn_eps_a); title('Real interest rate');
subplot(4,2,7); plot(4*(m_r_eps_a-[0;m_r_eps_a(1:end)])); title('Real money
growth');
subplot(4,2,8); plot(a_eps_a); title('a');
end;
B.
129
parameters beta epsilon theta sigma rho phi alpha phi_pi phi_y eta PSI_yan
THETA lambda kappa rho_v rho_a LAMBDA_v LAMBDA_a;
beta = 0.99;
sigma = 1;
phi = 1;
alpha = 1/3;
epsilon = 6;
eta = 4;
theta = 2/3;
phi_pi = 1.5;
phi_y = 0.5/4;
PSI_yan = (1+phi)/(sigma*(1-alpha)+phi+alpha);
THETA = (1-alpha)/(1-alpha+alpha*epsilon);
lambda = (1-theta)*(1-beta*theta)*THETA/theta;
kappa = lambda*(sigma+(phi+alpha)/(1-alpha));
rho = 1/beta-1;
rho_v = 0.5;
rho_a = 0.9;
LAMBDA_v = 1/((1-beta*rho_v)*(sigma*(1-rho_v)+phi_y)+kappa*(phi_pirho_v));
LAMBDA_a = 1/((1-beta*rho_a)*(sigma*(1-rho_a)+phi_y)+kappa*(phi_pirho_a));
//
//-----------------------------------------//
Model
//-----------------------------------------model(linear);
// Taylor-Rule
i = rho+phi_pi*pi+phi_y*y+v; // eq'n. (25), p. 50
// IS-Equation
y = y(+1)-1/sigma*(i-pi(+1)-rn); // y is output gap (22)
rn=rho+sigma*PSI_yan*(a(+1)-a); // natural rate of interest (23)
Y = PSI_yan*(1-sigma*(1-rho_a)*(1-beta*rho_a)*LAMBDA_a)*a; // actual
output; 3rd eq'n from bottom, p. 54
// Phillips Curve
pi = beta*pi(+1)+kappa*y; // (21)
// Money Demand
m_r = y-eta*i; // ad hoc money demand; m_r = m-p
// Employment
n = (((PSI_yan-1)-sigma*PSI_yan*(1-rho_a)*(1-beta*rho_a)*LAMBDA_a)/(1alpha))*a; // bottom p. 54
// Autoregressive Error
a = rho_a*a(-1) + eps_a; // technology shock (28)
v = rho_v*v(-1) + eps_v; // shock to i (bottom p. 50)
end;
//
//-----------------------------------------//
Steady State
//-----------------------------------------check;
//
//-----------------------------------------//
Shocks
//-----------------------------------------shocks;
var eps_v = 0;
var eps_a = 1;
end;
//
tech = 1;
policy = 0;
130
//-----------------------------------------//
Computation
//-----------------------------------------stoch_simul(irf=12);
//stoch_simul(periods=1000,irf=12);
//
//-----------------------------------------//
Plots
//-----------------------------------------if policy==1;
// Gali's figure 3.1
figure(2); clf;
subplot(3,2,1); plot(y_eps_v, '-o'); title('Output gap');
subplot(3,2,2); plot(4*pi_eps_v, '-o'); title('Inflation');
subplot(3,2,3); plot(4*i_eps_v, '-o'); title('Nominal interest rate');
subplot(3,2,4); plot(4*i_eps_v(1:end-1)-4*[pi_eps_v(2:end)], '-o');
title('Real interest rate');
subplot(3,2,5); plot(4*(m_r_eps_v-[0;m_r_eps_v(1:end-1)]), '-o');
title('Real money growth');
subplot(3,2,6); plot(v_eps_v, '-o'); title('v');
end;
if tech==1;
// Gali's figure 3.2
figure(2); clf;
subplot(4,2,1); plot(y_eps_a, '-o'); title('output gap');
subplot(4,2,2); plot(4*pi_eps_a, '-o'); title('inflation');
subplot(4,2,3); plot(Y_eps_a, '-o'); title('output');
subplot(4,2,4); plot(n_eps_a, '-o'); title('employment');
subplot(4,2,5); plot(4*i_eps_a, '-o'); title('nominal interest rate');
subplot(4,2,6); plot(4*i_eps_a(1:end-1)-4*[pi_eps_a(2:end)], '-o');
title('real interest rate');
subplot(4,2,7); plot(4*(m_r_eps_a-[0;m_r_eps_a(1:end-1)]), '-o');
title('real money growth');
subplot(4,2,8); plot(a_eps_a, '-o'); title('a');
end;
C.
Dynare codes A monetary policy shock with sticky prices and wages
131
phip = 1.5;
phiw = 0;
phiy = 0;
rho = 1/(beta-1);
psinya = (1+phi)/(sigma*(1-alpha)+phi+alpha);
psinwa = (1-alpha*psinya)/(1-alpha);
lambdap = ((1-thetap)*(1-beta*thetap)/thetap)*((1-alpha)/(1alpha+alpha*ep));
lambdaw = ((1-beta*thetaw)*(1-thetaw))/(thetaw*(1+ew*phi));
kappap = lambdap*alpha/(1-alpha);
kappaw = lambdaw*(sigma + phi/(1-alpha));
rhoa = 0.9;
rhov = 0.5;
//-----------------------------------------//
Model
//-----------------------------------------model(linear);
//-----------------------------------------//
Steady State
//-----------------------------------------check;
//-----------------------------------------//
Shocks
//-----------------------------------------shocks;
var eps_v = 0.0625;
var eps_a = 0;
end;
tech = 0;
policy = 1;
132
//-----------------------------------------//
Computation
//-----------------------------------------stoch_simul(order=1, irf=12);
//stoch_simul(periods=1000,irf=12);
//-----------------------------------------//
Plots
//-----------------------------------------if policy==1;
// Gali's figure 6.1
figure(2); clf;
subplot(3,2,1); plot(y_eps_v, '-o'); title('Output gap');
subplot(3,2,2); plot(4*pip_eps_v, '-o'); title('Price inflation');
subplot(3,2,3); plot(4*piw_eps_v, '-o'); title('Wage inflation');
subplot(3,2,4); plot(w_eps_v, '-o'); title('Real wage gap');
subplot(3,2,5); plot(n_eps_v, '-o'); title('Employment');
subplot(3,2,6); plot(v_eps_v, '-o'); title('v');
end;
if tech==1;
// Gali's figure 3.2
figure(2); clf;
subplot(4,2,1); plot(y_eps_a); title('Output gap');
subplot(4,2,2); plot(4*pi_eps_a); title('Inflation');
subplot(4,2,3); plot(Y_eps_a); title('Output');
subplot(4,2,4); plot(n_eps_a); title('Employment');
subplot(4,2,5); plot(4*i_eps_a); title('Nominal interest rate');
subplot(4,2,6); plot(4*rn_eps_a); title('Real interest rate');
subplot(4,2,7); plot(4*(m_r_eps_a-[0;m_r_eps_a(1:end)])); title('Real money
growth');
subplot(4,2,8); plot(a_eps_a); title('a');
end;
133