Determinacy and E-Stability with Interest Rate Rules at the Zero Lower Bound

Abstract

We evaluate and compare alternative interest rate rules, namely, average inflation targeting (AIT), price-level targeting (PLT), and traditional inflation targeting rules, in a standard New Keynesian model that features recurring, transient zero lower bound regimes. We use determinacy and expectational stability (E-stability) of equilibrium as the criteria for stabilization policy. We find that PLT policy, including nominal GDP targeting as a special case, most effectively promotes determinacy and E-stability among the policy frameworks, whereas standard inflation targeting rules are prone to indeterminacy. AIT can induce determinacy and E-stability effectively, provided the averaging window is sufficiently long.