Monetary policy transmission asymmetries in a heterogeneous monetary union: a simple contractual solution

Abstract

In this paper, we show that imposing linear penalties on inflation and income divergences to a common central bank could be an interesting solution to stabilization problems in a heterogeneous monetary Union. We find an “optimal contract†for monetary policy which enforces the optimal solution for maximizing Union-wide welfare. This contract may provide a good institutional response to stabilization problems raised by monetary policy transmission asymmetries, as described in De Grauwe & Senegas (2004).