Imes Discussion Paper Series Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies Bank of Japan

This paper undertakes a cross-country study on the price-output gap relationship for selected industrial countries (Japan, the U.S., Germany, the U.K. and Canada). The estimation results show that the price-output gap relationship in these countries can be classified into two categories: (1) a Phillips Curve-type (in which the output gap fluctuation affects the inflation rate); and (2) a NAIRU type (in which fluctuations in the output gap affect changes in the inflation rate). In addition, such classifications may vary according to the sample period chosen. During the first half of the observation period (1978-1986), NAIRU-type relations existed in all countries except Japan. During the second half (1987-1997), NAIRU-type relations were observed in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada, while Phillips-type relations were indicated in Japan and Germany. These results lead to the presumption that the price-output gap relationship is influenced by the recent inflation record, which is one of the most important factors that determine the formation mechanism of inflation expectations and the speed of price adjustment.