Macroeconomics and monetary policy: competing theoretical frameworks

Abstract

There is widespread agreement that monetary policy matters, but there is disagreement about how policy should be conducted. Behind this disagreement lies differences in theoretical understandings. The paper contrasts the new classical, neo-Keynesian, and Post Keynesian frameworks, thereby surfacing the differences. The new classical model has policy affecting only long-run inflation. The neo-Keynesian model has policy affecting inflation, unemployment, and real wages. The Post Keynesian model also affects growth, so policy implicitly picks a quadruple. Inflation targeting is a suboptimal policy frame because it biases decisions toward low inflation by obscuring the fact that policy also affects unemployment, real wages, and growth.

Keywords:

• inflation targeting
• monetary policy
• neo-Keynesian
• new classical
• Post Keynesian