Title: Empirical analysis of monetary policy reaction function in an emerging African market economy

Authors: Maureen Were

Addresses: KSMS Research Centre/Research Department, Central Bank of Kenya, P.O. Box 60000, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract: The paper analyses monetary policy reaction function for Kenya using quarterly data for the period 1999 to 2011. The empirical results show a strong effect of interest rate smoothing and support the fact that monetary policy was accommodative of the output growth objective. The response to inflation is however, generally found to be low, perhaps signifying the importance of supply-side inflation. Nonetheless, there is evidence in support of forward-looking monetary policy, which is critical in view of the increasing role of expectations in modern monetary policy-making process.

Keywords: reaction function; policy rule; monetary policy; Taylor rule; interest rate smoothing; emerging economies; Africa; market economy; Kenya; output growth; supply side inflation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2014.064672

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2014 Vol.8 No.3, pp.340 - 353

Received: 14 Feb 2013
Accepted: 26 Oct 2013

Published online: 13 Sep 2014 *

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