Scope of Interest Rate Policy of Central Banks

Abstract

After the Bank of Russia had switched to inflation targeting, its key rate became the main instrument of monetary policy. Based on the experience of both developed and developing countries, the authors conclude that besides regulating the key interest rate monetary authorities have a wide range of interest rate policy instruments. By regulating the width of the interest rate corridor and the location of the key rate within the corridor, monetary authorities get the opportunity to manage not only the level of the target interest rate and its volatility, but also to influence transnational capital flows. Interest rate instruments known since early 1990s were widely used by inflation-targeting monetary authorities during the crisis of 2008-2009 and the post-crisis period, when many of them experienced an increase of short-term foreign capital inflows and exchange rate volatility, which entailed increased risks for price and financial stability. The authors also confirm the significant role of such a traditional instrument of monetary policy as required reserves. Monetary authorities of developing countries use them to regulate monetary conditions in order to eliminate imbalances in the structure of credit organizations’ liabilities and, first of all, for the purpose of dedollarization and stimulation of the attractiveness of long-term deposits in national currency. According to the authors, widening the spectrum of interest rate instruments used by the regulator will help increase the flexibility and effectiveness of the Bank of Russia’s monetary policy.