Optimal Pass-Through of Oil Prices in an Economy with Nominal Rigidities

Abstract

In many developing and emerging market economies, governments intervene to limit the degree to which oil-price increases are passed through to domestic fuel prices. This paper investigates whether, and to what extent, this intervention is warranted in an oil-importing economy characterized by nominal rigidities in the goods and labor markets. Our results indicate that, to the extent that monetary policy is capable of stabilizing the economy, government intervention in the oil market must be avoided. On the other hand, when complete stabilization is not attainable as a result of sub-optimal monetary policy, the government can improve social welfare by limiting the degree of pass-through of oil prices. We find, however, that the welfare gain from pursuing such a policy is negligible.