Optimal monetary policy in a model of overlapping price contracts

This study estimates a model of overlapping nominal price contracts over three distinct monetary policy regimes, testing the stability of the parameters in the model across regimes. Upon finding a model that is stable over the three subsamples, the model then holds for the most recent monetary regime is used to compute the optimal policy frontier - the efficient combinations of output and inflation variances - and compared to actual policy performance. The study then evaluates the robustness of policy conclusions to particulars of the specification, and discusses the general properties that are required of a model in order to produce a plausible estimate of the optimal policy frontier.