A Quantitative Analysis of Cost-Push Shocks and Optimal Inflation Volatility

This article presents a quantitative analysis of optimal inflation volatility in a simple sticky-price general equilibrium model subject to both supply and cost-push shocks. It is found that optimal policy implies a relatively small degree of inflation volatility even when cost-push shocks are the dominant source of economic disturbance. In addition, it is found that optimal policy generates only a very small welfare gain when compared to strict inflation targeting.