Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/27641 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
Discussion Paper Series 1 No. 2008,16
Publisher: 
Deutsche Bundesbank, Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
We examine the global dimension of inflation in 24 OECD countries between 1980 and 2007 in a traditional Phillips curve framework. We decompose output gaps and changes in unit labor costs into common (or global) and idiosyncratic components using a factor analysis and introduce these components separately in the regression. Unlike previous studies, we allow global forces to affect inflation through (the common part of) domestic demand and supply conditions. Our most important result is that the common component of changes in unit labor costs notably affects inflation. We also find evidence that movements in import price inflation have small effects on CPI inflation while the impact of movements in the common component of the output gap is unclear. A counterfactual experiment illustrates that the common component of unit labor cost changes and non-commodity import price inflation have held down overall inflation in many countries in recent years. Our results imply that monetary policy makers need to carefully monitor global forces when assessing and predicting inflation. In analogy to the Phillips curves, we estimate monetary policy rules with common and idiosyncratic components of inflation and the output gap included separately. Central banks have indeed reacted to the global components.
Subjects: 
Inflation
globalization
Phillips curves
factor models
monetary policy rules
JEL: 
C33
F41
E31
C50
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
809.84 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.