Monetary Policy and Rational Asset Price Bubbles

Recognition Program

Authors: Jordi Galí

American Economic Review, Vol. 104, No 3, 721-752, March, 2014

I examine the impact of alternative monetary policy rules on a rational asset price bubble, through the lens of an overlapping generations model with nominal rigidities. A systematic increase in interest rates in response to a growing bubble is shown to enhance the fluctuations in the latter, through its positive effect on bubble growth. The optimal monetary policy seeks to strike a balance between stabilization of the bubble and stabilization of aggregate demand. The paper's main findings call into question the theoretical foundations of the case for "leaning against the wind" monetary policies.

This paper originally appeared as Barcelona School of Economics Working Paper 592
This paper is acknowledged by the Barcelona School of Economics Recognition Program