An Operating Framework for the 21st Century

19 Pages Posted: 30 Dec 2019 Last revised: 14 Mar 2020

See all articles by David Beckworth

David Beckworth

Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Date Written: November 27, 2019

Abstract

This paper makes the case that there is an urgent need to upgrade the Federal Reserve’s operating framework to handle the realities of the 21st century. To do this, the Fed needs to make several important changes. First, it needs to adjust its operating framework so that it is robust to both positive and negative interest rate environments. Second, the Fed needs to tie its operating framework to a level target so that it can do meaningful forward guidance. Finally, the operating framework needs the enhanced credibility that comes by providing the Fed explicit but constrained access to a standing fiscal facility at the zero lower bound. This paper outlines a proposal that accomplishes this goal and does so in a manner that would encourage the Fed to act in a more systematic, rules-based, and accountable manner.

Suggested Citation

Beckworth, David, An Operating Framework for the 21st Century (November 27, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3494567 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3494567

David Beckworth (Contact Author)

Mercatus Center at George Mason University ( email )

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