Norges Bank

Working Paper

Announcements of interest rate forecasts: Do policymakers stick to them?

Author:
Nikola Mirkov and Gisle James Natvik
Series:
Working Paper
Number:
11/2013

Abstract
If central banks value the ex-post accuracy of their forecasts, previously announced interest rate paths might affect the current policy rate. We explore whether this "forecast adherence" has influenced the monetary policies of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Norges Bank, the two central banks with the longest history of publishing interest rate paths. We derive and estimate a policy rule for a central bank that is reluctant to deviate from its forecasts. The rule can nest a variety of interest rate rules. We find that policymakers appear to be constrained by their most recently announced forecasts.

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ISSN 1502-8143 (online)

Published 11 April 2013 15:00
Published 11 April 2013 15:00