CRC Press Inflation Targeting and Policy Rules: The Case of Mexico, 2001-2012

Inflation Targeting and Policy Rules is an essential book for understanding how Mexico’s monetary policy has been evolving and functioning, from the beginning of the century to recent, highlighting the doctrine of policy rules and focusing on inflation targeting, both fundamental elements necessary to comprehend the operation of the main central banks of the world. The book is valuable because of its theoretical and empirical treatment applied to the policy rules and to inflation targeting, which range from their origin, criticism, development, controversies, evolution, and evaluation of the subject. It is accessible reading for anyone interested in approaching the subject of the monetary policy of a developing country. It is, without a doubt, a relevant addition to the bank of knowledge on the monetary reality of any country that has recently adopted inflation targeting and use a policy rule based on interest rate as instrument, as well as the flexible currency exchange regimen. It will become an essential source for future investigations in Mexico and other countries in similar situations. The book: Explains the analytical framework that consists of developing conditional probability as essential for rational expectations hypothesis Presents a synthetic but detailed exposure of the approach of inflation targeting, especially based on the consensus among monetary authorities in the pursuit of low and stable inflation, detailing some of the most relevant experiences as well as their main objections. Reviews the process origin-evolution of monetary policy rules, Assesses the actions of the Banco de México in terms of the implementation of the approach of inflation targeting Summarizes the highlights of Mexico’s monetary policy and offers conclusions The book is suitable for macroeconomics courses and courses dealing with developing economies as well as for financial professionals seeking recent and trends. Review "Oscar Rodriguez Medina and Dr. Elias Alvarado Lagunas are well-documented and expert professors in monetary theory. In their book, Inflation Targeting and Policy Rules: The Case of Mexico, 2001–2012, they begin with a serious and a rigorous theoretical analysis and then offer empirical evidence, emphasizing the case of emerging countries and how this kind of countries is most vulnerable to global issues as financial crises. Also the book explains how governments have implemented the inflation targeting approach and use monetary policy rules as a regulatory policy and price stabilization. I would recommend publication."―Dr. Mario Sánchez Silva, Director, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico "The relevance of this book is based on that it is a theoretical-practical guide in the way in which, nowadays, the majority of the world’s central banks manage their monetary policy. The design of this book, even though it requires knowledge of technical terms, is easy to read because it was written carefully in detail. It emphasizes the case of developing countries whose transition to the use of the scheme of inflation targets and monetary policy rules is recent or in process, without neglecting the review of the exchange rate variable in monetary policy decision-making. . . . The authors describe the efforts of countries, such as Mexico, to use the interest rate as a nominal anchor of the economy. However, the recent international economic circumstances, such as the decrease in petroleum prices, and the impact on public finances have caused the Banco de Mèxico to change its objective for the interbank interest rate, which is an evidence that it is possible that the volatility of the exchange rate negatively influence inflation expectations. It has been a pleasure to review this work, and I recommend the utilization of this guide for advanced macroeconomics courses, both at undergraduate and graduate levels, because it represents an interesting empirical