Monetary policy is known to have both short and long-term effects. While it generally affects the real sector with long and variable lags, monetary policy actions on financial markets, on the other hand, usually have important short-run implications. Typical lags after which monetary policy decisions begin to affect the real sector could vary across countries. It is, therefore, essential to understand the transmission mechanism of monetary policy actions on financial markets, prices and output.
The four monetary transmission channels, which are of concern to policy makers are: the quantum channel, especially relating to money supply and credit; the interest rate channel; the exchange rate channel, and the asset prices channel. Monetary policy impulses under the quantum channel affect the real output and price level directly through changes in either reserve money, money stock or credit aggregates. The remaining channels are essentially indirect as the policy impulses affect real activities through changes in either interest rates or the exchange rate or asset prices. Since none of the channels of monetary transmission operate in isolation, considerable feedbacks and interactions, need to be carefully analysed for a proper understanding of the transmission mechanism. It is important to distinguish strategic and tactical considerations in the conduct of monetary policy. While monetary strategy aims at achieving final objectives, tactical
References: Michael Woodford, Rules for Monetary Policy, National Bureau of Economic Research C. Canby Balderston, Monetary Policy and Inflation, The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 1959 Thai Monetary Policy in the 21st Century, Economic Symposium 2000 Y V Reddy, Parameters of Monetary Policy in India Lecture by Dr Y V Reddy, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, at the 88th Annual Conference of The Indian Econometric Society at Madras School of Economics, Chennai, 15 January 2002.