Should Tariff Reductions be Announced? An Intertemporal Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

In this paper the macro and structural implications of three alternative tariff-reduction strategies are examined. Under the first strategy, which is similar to that adopted in Australia in 1973, the tariff cut is implemented without warning. The second strategy is consistent with the current approach of phasing in tariff cuts according to a previously announced schedule. Under the third strategy the tariff cut is implemented several years after it is announced. Our results suggest that if tariffs are to be reduced then it is preferable to implement the policy without warning.     

Communication by Central Bank Committee Members: Different Strategies, Same Effectiveness?

The paper assesses the communication strategies of the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, and the European Central Bank and their effectiveness. We find that the effectiveness of communication is not independent from the decision-making process. The paper shows that the Federal Reserve has been pursuing a highly individualistic communication strategy amid a collegial approach to decision making, while the Bank of England is using a collegial communication strategy and highly individualistic decision making. The European Central Bank (ECB) has chosen a collegial approach both in its communication and in its decision making. Assessing these strategies, we find that predictability of policy decisions and the responsiveness of financial markets to communication are equally good for the Federal Reserve and the ECB. This suggests that there may not be a single best approach to designing a central bank communication strategy.