Comparing Different Central Bank Targets

In this paper we analyze different target regimes for a central bank. First, we determine the main macroeconomic variables under inflationtargeting and nominal income targeting in the context of a Mundell–Flemmingtwo country model. We then investigate under which conditions onetarget regime is superior to another if supply or demand shocks occur.The main result of this paper is that there exists a unique boundary for theweight on employment in the objective function of the centralbank. If the actual weight is smaller than this bound, inflation targetingis superior to nominal income targeting. For a weight larger than thisbound, nominal income targeting causes a smaller loss. For the two extremecases of the weight, namely zero or infinity one target regime coincideswith the loss-minimizing solution: inflation targeting for a weight of zeroand nominal income targeting for a weight of infinity.     

对我国开征物业税的思考

改革现行房地产税费,开征物业税是我国未来税制改革的一项重要的内容。首先阐述了物业税的概念以及开征物业税的时代背景和必要性,接着分析了物业税的征收范围、征收依据、税率的确定等问题以及该实施怎样的税收优惠,最后提出了对我国实施物业税的几点看法和建议。。     

The atmospheric carbon resilience problem: A theoretical analysis

We study a dynamic carbon pollution model where carbon accumulates both inside a nonrenewable and a renewable reservoir with a constant regeneration rate. Two primary energy sources are available: a cheap exhaustible fossil fuel (coal) and an expensive clean energy alternative (solar). To avoid catastrophic climate events, the global carbon concentration has to remain below some critical mandated ceiling. We show that there exists an upper bound on the coal endowment that can be consumed, which distinguishes two main cases: coal is initially abundant or scarce. If the energy sector has to provide a constant aggregate energy flow to the final users, cost-effectiveness requires that the global ceiling should be attained only when solar energy is introduced. Then the economy stays forever at the ceiling and coal use is progressively replaced by solar energy use. In the abundant coal case, this energy sources substitution process lasts for an infinite duration while in the scarce coal case, coal exploitation ends in finite time. Under a welfare maximization criterion, if coal is abundant, we show that the economy may follow a sequence of phases at the ceiling and below the ceiling before the final transition towards clean energy.     

The atmospheric carbon resilience problem: A theoretical analysis

We study a dynamic carbon pollution model where carbon accumulates both inside a nonrenewable and a renewable reservoir with a constant regeneration rate. Two primary energy sources are available: a cheap exhaustible fossil fuel (coal) and an expensive clean energy alternative (solar). To avoid catastrophic climate events, the global carbon concentration has to remain below some critical mandated ceiling. We show that there exists an upper bound on the coal endowment that can be consumed, which distinguishes two main cases: coal is initially abundant or scarce. If the energy sector has to provide a constant aggregate energy flow to the final users, cost-effectiveness requires that the global ceiling should be attained only when solar energy is introduced. Then the economy stays forever at the ceiling and coal use is progressively replaced by solar energy use. In the abundant coal case, this energy sources substitution process lasts for an infinite duration while in the scarce coal case, coal exploitation ends in finite time. Under a welfare maximization criterion, if coal is abundant, we show that the economy may follow a sequence of phases at the ceiling and below the ceiling before the final transition towards clean energy.     

Does it matter (for equilibrium determinacy) what price index the central bank targets?

What inflation rate should the central bank target? We address determinacy issues related to this question in a two-sector model in which prices can differ in equilibrium. We assume that the degree of nominal price stickiness can vary across the sectors and that labor is immobile. The contribution of this paper is to demonstrate that a modified Taylor Principle holds in this environment. If the central bank elects to target sector one, and if it responds with a coefficient greater than unity to price movements in this sector, then this policy rule will ensure determinacy across all sectors. The results of this paper have at least two implications. First, the equilibrium-determinacy criterion does not imply a preference to any particular measure of inflation. Second, since the Taylor Principle applies at the sectoral level, there is no need for a Taylor Principle at the aggregate level.     

Does trend inflation make a difference?

Although the average inflation rate of developed countries in the postwar period has been greater than zero, much of the extensive literature on monetary policy has employed models that assume zero steady-state inflation. In comparing four estimated medium–scale NK DSGE models with real and nominal frictions, we seek to shed light on the quantitative implications of omitting trend inflation, that is, positive steady–state inflation. We compare certain population characteristics and the IRFs for the four models by applying two loss functions based on a point distance criterion and on a distribution distance criterion, respectively. Finally, we compare the RMSE forecasts and we consider also an indirect inference test. We repeat the analysis for three sub-periods: the Great Inflation, the Great Moderation and the union of the two periods. We do not find strong evidence that a model with trend inflation should always be preferred. During periods of high inflation or when a backward-looking component, indexed to past inflation, is not incorporated in the model, using a model that employs trend inflation can improve the analysis. Nevertheless, where there is uncertainty concerning the change of an inflation regime, such as the recent drop, we suggest adopting a traditional approach that does not use trend inflation.     

国际储备积累、实物与资产价格通胀及货币政策独立性

本文理论模型显示,国际储备积累引起的货币增发会导致实物和资产价格上涨,降低货币政策独立性。首先,尽管货币政策工具短期内可以通过冲销和抑制信贷等方法控制通胀,但只要顺差积累足够大,长期无法阻止通胀。其次,如果人们预期央行未来会让物价上升,即使物价当前仍被较好地控制,资产价格也可能出现大幅上涨。最后,在"不可能三角"中,即使放弃资本自由流动,也并不意味着就能同时拥有汇率稳定和独立货币政策。     

Certification of Origin as a Non-Tariff Barrier

This paper puts forward the opinion that the certification of origin constitutes another type of non‐tariff barrier. Indeed, certification of origin often combines both a quantity restriction and a sort of quality cost subsidy. We consider the canonical model of strategic trade policy, whereby two firms located respectively in the home country and in a foreign country are competing on the domestic market. In this framework, we show how certification can allow the domestic firm to position itself as a high quality producer. If, however, the certified firm offers the low quality good, then consumers’ surplus may be improved.     

An experimental test of Taylor-type rules with inexperienced central bankers

We experimentally test monetary policy decision making in a population of inexperienced central bankers. In our experiments, subjects repeatedly set the short-term interest rate for a computer economy with inflation as their target. A large majority of subjects learn to successfully control inflation by correctly putting higher weight on inflation than on the output gap. In fact, the behavior of these subjects meets a stability criterion. The subjects smooth the interest rate as the theoretical literature suggests they should in order to enhance stability of the uncertain system they face. Our study is the first to use Taylor-type rules as a framework to identify inflation weighting, stability, and interest-rate smoothing as behavioral outcomes when subjects try to achieve an inflation target.     

薪酬管制与会计信息质量*——基于超额薪酬的中介效应

在国有企业收入分配制度改革的大背景下，本文检验了薪酬管制政策对国有企业管理者超额薪酬与会计信息质量的影响。研究发现超额薪酬与会计信息质量呈U型关系；薪酬管制通过削减超额薪酬，进而降低了会计信息质量；现行薪酬管制政策的限薪标准缺乏针对性，致使政策的实施不仅削减了过度激励情形下国有企业管理者的超额薪酬，同时还加剧了部分国有企业管理者激励不足的情况；实施股权激励与提高审计质量均有助于弱化薪酬管制的负面影响。研究结论表明，现有薪酬管制政策有效但精准程度有待进一步提升，未来国有企业薪酬制度改革应在兼顾成本效益的基础上细化限薪标准，力争因地制宜、精准限薪。     

INFLATION PERSISTENCE AND FLEXIBLE PRICES*

If the central bank follows an interest rate rule, then inflation is likely to be persistent, even when prices are fully flexible. Any shock, whether persistent or not, may lead to inflation persistence. In equilibrium, the dynamics of inflation are determined by the evolution of the spread between the real interest rate and the central bank's target. Inflation persistence can be characterized by a vector autocorrelation function relating inflation and output. This article shows that a flexible‐price, general‐equilibrium business cycle model with money and a central bank using an interest rate target can account for such inflation persistence.     

部门生产率、汇率与结构性通货膨胀——基于B-S假说的拓展研究

通货膨胀是一国经济高速增长时期频发的经济现象,它的形成有结构性原因。基于B-S(巴拉萨-萨缪尔森)假说构建了新的理论框架分析结构性通货膨胀形成的内在机理,然后利用中国30多年经济发展的相关数据对部门劳动生产率增长差异与通货膨胀之间的关系进行了实证分析。实证分析表明,部门生产率增长差异是通货膨胀形成的重要原因,货币供给量、汇率也是影响我国通货膨胀的重要因素。     

Uncertainty,informational spillovers and policy reform: A gravity model approach

Reforms often occur in waves, seemingly cascading from country to country. We argue that such reform waves can be driven by informational spillovers: uncertainty about the outcome of reform is reduced by learning from the experience of similar countries. We motivate this hypothesis with a simple theoretical model of informational spillovers and learning, and then test it empirically using an approach inspired by the gravity model. We find evidence of informational spillovers both with respect to both political and economic liberalization. While the previous literature has focused only on economic reform, we find that the spillovers are particularly important for political changes.     

INFLATION,OUTPUT, AND WELFARE*

We study the effects of anticipated inflation on aggregate output and welfare within a search‐theoretic framework. We consider two pricing mechanisms: ex post bargaining and a notion of competitive pricing. Under bargaining, the equilibrium is generically inefficient and an increase in inflation reduces buyers' search intensities, output, and welfare. If prices are posted and buyers can direct their search, search intensities are increasing with inflation for low inflation rates and decreasing for high inflation rates. The Friedman rule achieves the efficient allocation, and inflation always reduces welfare, although it can have a positive effect on output for low inflation rates.     

“货币超发”是此轮通货膨胀的根本原因吗

2010年下半年以来,我国通货膨胀问题变得日益严峻,绝大多数学者认为"货币超发"是这轮通胀的根本原因。而本文从货币化等角度出发,分析指出我国市场化改革的不完善和相对停滞才是此轮通胀的深层次原因,并在此基础上提出了治理通胀的长久之策。     

Term structure and forward guidance as instruments of monetary policy

This paper studies a simple monetary model with a Ricardian fiscal policy in which equilibria are indeterminate if monetary policy consists solely of a rule for fixing the short-term interest rate. We introduce explicitly into the model the agents’ expectations of inflation which create the indeterminacy and show that there are two types of policies—a term structure rule or a forward guidance rule for the short rate—which lead to determinacy. The first consists in fixing the interest rates on a family of bonds of different maturities as function of realized inflation; the second consists in fixing the short-term interest rate and the expected values of the short-term interest rate for a sequence of periods into the future as a function of realized inflation. If the monetary authority chooses an inflation process that satisfies conditions derived in the paper and applies one of these rules, it anchors agents’ expectations to this process, in the sense that it is the unique inflation process compatible with equilibrium when the interest rates or expected future values of the short rate are those specified by the term structure or forward guidance rule.     

对中国当前宏观调控的基本判断和预期

中国已进入全面通胀时期,通胀现象将在小幅振荡中持续攀升。通胀的主要根源是过度投资造成的流动性过剩,控制通胀必须在较长时期内坚持总量从紧的货币政策,必须改善和优化经济增长结构,降低各级政府投资冲动,依赖于政府职能转变,即把大部分经济职能移交给市场,由市场与政府共同分担调控责任。保证增长、控制物价,需进一步深化产权改革,刺激以农民为主体的有恒产者掀起新一轮投资热潮,并以此作为未来最主要的经济增长点。     

从帕累托标准看我国土地制度改革方式取向

土地制度改革是改革土地现有的权利义务关系，通过土地权利的让渡实现资源配置，促进农村生产力的发展。所以，应在土地所有制上再造集体所有制并在此基础上实现土地使用权的自然流转，实现资源的优化配置。     

Equilibrium determinacy and inflation measures for interest rate rules

Empirical evidence suggests that goods are highly heterogeneous with respect to the degree of price rigidity. We develop a two-sector dynamic general equilibrium model to study the equilibrium determinacy properties of interest rate rules that respond to inflation measures differing in their degree of price rigidity. We find that rules responding to a headline measure, which puts some weight on the inflation of the sector with low price stickiness, are more prone to generate endogenous aggregate instability—in the form of fluctuations driven by self-fulfilling expectations and equilibria where fluctuations are unbounded—than rules that respond exclusively to a core measure, which includes only the inflation of the sector with high price stickiness. We discuss how our results depend on the elasticity of substitution across goods, the timing of the policy rule, and reacting to aggregate activity.     

Central Bank Independence,Inflation and Uncertainty: The Case of Colombia

Colombia undertook reform of its central bank in 1991, pushing it in the direction of greater independence. We find that this reform led to a significant decrease in the level of inflation, as well as inflation uncertainty, suggesting an increase in credibility. However, there has also been an increase in inflation persistence since reform. The lower mean but greater persistence of inflation indicates that central bank independence has shifted the Phillips curve inward but also flattened it, a result consistent with recent research for the Euro-zone and the United States. Finally, further analysis reveals that, in accordance with the Friedman-Ball hypothesis, higher inflation raises uncertainty in Colombia, but that uncertainty does not increase inflation.