Optimal Regional Biases in ECB Interest Rate Setting

This paper uses a simple model of optimal monetary policy to consider whether the influence of national output and inflation rates on ECB interest rate setting should equal a country's weight in the eurozone economy. The findings depend on assumptions regarding interest rate elasticities, exchange rate elasticities, and openness vis-agrave;-vis non-eurozone countries. The major conclusion is that the ECB should respond less to inflation shocks in EMU countries that have strong trading ties with non-eurozone countries. Intuitively, these countries can take care of some of the monetary tightening themselves, through a real appreciation vis-agrave;-vis their non-eurozone trading partners