A 'Timeless Perspective' on Optimality in Forward-Looking Rational Expectations Models

Abstract

This paper discusses the `timeless perspective' optimisation concept with reference to a much-studied forward-looking rational expectations model. We establish that this policy, as usually described, is not always superior to a time consistent alternative on the basis of the stochastic equilibrium. We derive an alternative `timelessly optimal' rule which is globally optimal with respect to the unconditional variance and is therefore more supportable as a time consistent equilibrium.