Endogenous nominal rigidities and monetary policy

Recent empirical research finds that the degree of nominal rigidities varies over monetary policy regimes. This implies that monetary policy analysis with exogenously given nominal rigidities is subject to the Lucas critique. We allow firms to choose the probability of price adjustment in a Calvo-style sticky price model, and analyze how this probability changes according to an inflation coefficient of the Taylor rule. The model shows that a more aggressive monetary policy response to inflation makes firms less likely to reset prices and gives the resulting New Keynesian Phillips curve a flatter slope and a smaller disturbance, as observed during the Volcker-Greenspan era. Also, such a policy response can stabilize both inflation and the output gap by exploiting the feedback effects of this policy response on firms’ price-setting. These results offer theoretical support for the good policy hypothesis about the Great Moderation.

Research Highlights► Empirical studies find that the degree of nominal rigidities varies over monetary policy regimes. ► How does the probability of price adjustment change with the Taylor rule's inflation coefficient? ► A larger inflation coefficient gives the NK Phillips curve a flatter slope and a smaller disturbance. ► It can also stabilize both inflation and the output gap via its feedback effects on price-setting. ► These results offer theoretical support for the good policy hypothesis about the Great Moderation.