Taylor-Type Rule

We use the Taylor-type rule to evaluate the current policy rate in the United States. In specific, we follow Bullard (2023) and consider the rules of the following form: $$R_t = \max\left[R^* + \pi^* + \phi_{\pi}(\pi_t-\pi^*) + \min(ygap_t,0),0\right],$$

  • $R_t$ is the recommended policy rate
  • $R^*$ is the real interest rate
  • $\pi^* = 2%$ is the inflation target
  • $\pi_t$ is the inflation index
  • $\phi_{\pi}$ describes the reaction of the policy maker to deviations of inflation from target
  • $ygap_t$ is the output gap

Inflation

Output Gap

We use Okun’s law to compute the output gap.

The Sufficiently Restrictive Zone

References
  • Bullard, J. (2023). Is Monetary Policy Sufficiently Restrictive?. The Regional Economist.
  • Holston, K., Laubach, T., & Williams, J. C. (2023). Measuring the natural rate of interest after COVID-19 (No. 1063). Staff Report.