What is the Taylor rule? What is its purpose?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The Taylor Rule is a prescriptive model that suggests how central banks should change nominal interest rates to counteract fluctuations in inflation, output, or employment. The purpose of the rule is to stabilize the economy by mitigating drastic economic changes, thus creating a more predictable economic landscape.

Step by step solution

01

Explanation of the Taylor Rule

The Taylor Rule, proposed by economist John Taylor in 1993, is a principle used for interest rate targeting. It is formulated to adjust and set suitable levels of interest rates in response to changes in economic conditions. By doing so, the rule intends to stabilize the economy by setting an ideal central bank policy rate.
02

Mathematical Representation

Mathematically, the Taylor rule is represented as follows:\(i = r^* + π + 0.5*(π - π^*) + 0.5*y\),where:- \(i\) is the nominal fed funds rate,- \(r^*\) is the assumed real equilibrium fed funds rate, usually set to 2%,- \(π\) is the rate of inflation,- \(π^*\) is the target inflation rate, usually 2%,- \(y\) is the output gap, the difference between actual and potential GDP in percentage.
03

Purpose of the Taylor Rule

The Taylor Rule serves a substantial role in policymaking by suggesting how central banks should change nominal interest rates to account for changes in inflation, output, or other economic conditions. This allows central banks to stabilize the economy by mitigating fluctuations, reaching maximum employment, and achieving stability in the prices of goods and services.

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