Did interest rate guidance in emerging markets work?

Abstract

Central banks in emerging market economies experimented with explicit interest rate guidance during 2020-2021. We explore the effectiveness of this policy. Despite some heterogeneity, interest rate guidance generally provided additional monetary stimulus, as reflected in lower medium-term yields and lower term spreads. The magnitude of the reduction in 10-year yields ranged between five and twenty basis points. In the immediate aftermath of the guidance, we do not observe a systematic negative market reaction – such as de-anchoring of inflation expectations, currency depreciation pressures, or increased sovereign credit risk – that would be associated with a loss of central bank credibility or with concerns about fiscal dominance.