This paper dreives optimal monetary policy rules in setups where certainty equivalence does not hold because either central bank preferences are not quadratic, and/or the aggregate supply relation is nonlinear. Analytical results show that these features lead to sign and size aymmetries, and nonlinearities in the policy rule. Reduced-form estimates indicate that US monetary policy can be characterized by a nonlinear policy rule after 1983, but not before 1979.This finding is consistent with the view that the Fed`s inflation preferences during the VolckerGreenspan regime differ considerably from the ones during the Burns-Miller regime.

This paper constructs and estimates a sticky-price, Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium model with heterogenous production sectors. Sectors di er in price stickiness, capital-adjustment costs and production technology, and use output from each other as material and investment inputs following an Input-Output Matrix and Capital Flow Table that represent the U.S. economy. By relaxing the standard assumption of symmetry, this model allows di erent sectoral dynamics in response to monetary policy shocks. The model is estimated by Simulated Method of Moments using sectoral and aggregate U.S. time series. Results indicate 1) substantial heterogeneity in price stickiness across sectors, with quantitatively larger di erences between services and goods than previously found in micro studies that focus on final goods alone, 2) a strong sensitivity to monetary policy shocks on the part of construction and durable manufacturing, and 3) similar quantitative predictions at the aggregate level by the multi-sector model and a standard model that assumes symmetry across sectors.JEL Classification: E3, E4, E5

This paper studies Tobin's proposition that in ation \greases" the wheels of the labor market. The analysis is carried out using a simple dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with asymmetric wage adjustment costs. Optimal in ation is determined by a benevolent government that maximizes the households' welfare. The Simulated Method of Moments is used to estimate the nonlinear model based on its second-order approximation. Econometric results indicate that nominal wages are downwardly rigid and that the optimal level of grease in ation for the U.S. economy is about 1.2 percent per year, with a 95% con dence interval ranging from 0.2 to 1.6 percent.JEL Classi cation: E4, E5. Key Words: Optimal in ation, asymmetric adjustment costs, nonlinear dynamics.We received helpful comments and suggestions from

RÉSUMÉCe papier teste les prédictions du modèle de Barro-Gordon en utilisant les données américaines sur l'inflation et le chômage. Pour ce faire, il construit un modèle de jeu théorique général avec des préférences asymétriques qui englobe le modèle de Barro-Gordon et une version du modèle de Cukierman qui sont des cas spéciaux. Les tests du rapports de vraisemblance indiquent que la restriction imposée par le modèle de Barro-Gordon est rejetée par les données, mais celle imposée par la version du modèle de Cukierman ne l'est pas. Les estimations sous la forme réduite sont cohérentes avec l'idée selon laquelle la Réserve fédérale accorde une plus grande importance aux déviations positives qu'aux déviations négatives du chômage par rapport au taux naturel espéré.