This paper challenges the time-inconsistency case for central bank independence. It argues that the time-inconsistency literature not only seriously confuses the substance of the rules versus discretion debate, but also posits an implausible view of monetary policy. Most worrisome, the...

In many cases the optimal open-loop policy to influence agents who solve dynamic problems is time-inconsistent. We show how to construct a time-consistent open-loop policy rule. We also consider an additional restriction under which the time-consistent open-loop policy is stationary. We use...

This paper analyzes the incentive effects of pollution taxes versus pollution permits for a revenue maximizing Government that also pursues environmental objectives. In our model, pollution permits are analyzed as durable goods, and the leasing of pollution permits is seen as an equivalent to a...

This paper compares education investment in closed and open economies without government and with a benevolent government. The fact that the time consistency problem in taxation can make labor mobility beneficial even if governments are fully benevolent - which is known from other contexts - is...

This working paper after quickly reviewing the different types of existing macro models presents some basic tools that have proved useful for analysing monetary policy in recent years. Through the use of a simple quantitative forward-looking model of output, inflation and interest rate...

We analyze two monetary economies - a cash-credit good model and a limited participation model. In our models, monetary policy is made by a benevolent policymaker who cannot commit to future policies. We define and analyze Markov equilibrium in these economies. We show that there is no time...

This paper analyses how democratic institutions can help mitigate time inconsistency problems. We illustrate the ideas in a simple model of capital taxation. Voters delegate policy decisions to a politician and employ a retrospective voting rule to hold the elected politician accountable for his...

In order to study time-consistent monetary risk measures in a continuous time, finite horizon setting, there arises a need to define risk-adjusted valuations at all dates in the time continuum. One approach of tackling this issue is to define risk-adjusted valuations at all dates and call this...

This paper analyzes the relationship between inflation, output and government size by reexamining the time inconsistency of optimal monetary and fiscal policies in a general equilibrium model with staggered timing structure for the acquisition of nominal money à la Neiss (Neiss, Katharine S....