Inflation targeting is a widely praised monetary policy approach, particularly effective for small, open economies. Introduced by New Zealand and Canada in the early 1990s, it quickly gained popularity in countries like Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Norway.
This strategy has been credited with significantly reducing inflation levels and volatility wherever consistently applied, leading to better economic performance and preventing major shifts in income distribution caused by unexpected inflation surges.
The effectiveness of inflation targeting lies in its focus on price stability, which forces central banks to adopt transparent monetary policy goals and measures. This transparency builds public confidence and contributes to lower and more predictable inflation rates.
Inflation Targeting (Credits: FasterCapital)
However, despite its success, the assumption that inflation targeting is suitable for all economies, particularly extremely open ones, may not hold.
For instance, economies like Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, and Denmark, with high trade-to-GDP ratios, do not employ inflation targeting. These economies have chosen alternative strategies, such as fixed exchange rates or currency boards, which better suit their economic characteristics.
Hong Kong’s decision to fix its exchange rate to the US dollar, for example, was driven by the need to stabilize its currency following a period of depreciation due to political developments related to its sovereignty.
Similarly, Denmark has tied its exchange rate to the euro, given its proximity to the eurozone. Economies in the European Union with high trade-to-GDP ratios, like Luxembourg and Malta, have adopted the euro for its stability and benefits in highly interconnected markets.
These examples suggest that while inflation targeting may be effective for many economies, it may not be the optimal choice for extremely open economies with unique economic characteristics and challenges.
