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Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Hyperbolic Discounting and Positive Optimal Inflation

Author(s): Liam Graham and Dennis J. Snower

Publication Date: May 2011

Keyword(s): inflation targeting, monetary policy, nominal inertia, optimal monetary policy, Phillips curve and unemployment

Programme Area(s): Labour Economics

Abstract: The Friedman rule states that steady-state welfare is maximized when there is deflation at the real rate of interest. Recent work by Khan et al. (2003) uses a richer model but still finds deflation optimal. In an otherwise standard new Keynesian model we show that, if households have hyperbolic discounting, small positive rates of inflation can be optimal. In our baseline calibration, the optimal rate of inflation is 2.1% and remains positive across a wide range of calibrations.

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Bibliographic Reference

Graham, L and Snower, D. 2011. 'Hyperbolic Discounting and Positive Optimal Inflation'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=8390