Forecast Uncertainty and the Taylor Rule

36 Pages Posted: 21 Apr 2015 Last revised: 16 Jan 2017

See all articles by Christian Bauer

Christian Bauer

University of Trier; Universität Trier

Matthias Neuenkirch

University of Trier - Faculty of Economics; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Date Written: January 16, 2017

Abstract

In this paper, we derive a modification of a forward-looking Taylor rule, which integrates two variables measuring the uncertainty of inflation and GDP growth forecasts into an otherwise standard New Keynesian model. We show that certainty-equivalence in New Keynesian models is a consequence of log-linearization and that a second-order Taylor approximation leads to a reaction function which includes the uncertainty of macroeconomic expectations. To test the model empirically, we use the standard deviation of individual forecasts around the median Consensus Forecast as proxy for forecast uncertainty. Our sample covers the euro area, Sweden, and the United Kingdom and the period 1992Q4-2014Q2. We find that while all three central banks react significantly to inflation forecast uncertainty by reducing their policy rates in times of higher inflation expectation uncertainty with an average effect of more than 25 basis points, they do not have significant reactions to GDP growth forecast uncertainty. We conclude with some implications for optimal monetary policy rules and central bank watchers.

Keywords: Certainty-Equivalence, Consensus Forecasts, Forecast Uncertainty, Global Financial Crisis, Optimal Monetary Policy, Taylor Rule

JEL Classification: E52, E58

Suggested Citation

Bauer, Christian and Neuenkirch, Matthias, Forecast Uncertainty and the Taylor Rule (January 16, 2017). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2597017 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2597017

Christian Bauer

University of Trier ( email )

15, Universitaetsring
Trier, 54286
Germany

Universität Trier ( email )

Germany

Matthias Neuenkirch (Contact Author)

University of Trier - Faculty of Economics ( email )

Universitätsring 15
Trier, 54296
Germany
+49 - (0)651 - 201 - 2629 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.uni-trier.de/index.php?id=50130

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute) ( email )

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
89
Abstract Views
960
Rank
516,629
PlumX Metrics