Bank of Botswana's reaction function: modelling Botswana's monetary policy strategy

Abstract

This paper examines how monetary policy was actually conducted in Botswana, by specifying and estimating a monetary reaction function for the Bank of Botswana (BoB). Basically, a monetary reaction function (MRF) for a central bank is an equation that is intended to establish the goals that have actually been influencing the actions of the central bank. A MRF would exist if the monetary authorities (or BoB in particular) have been purposeful and reasonably consistent in the policy-making process. Thus, a study of a MRF provides a test on whether the monetary policy-making process has been characterised by systematic (if it exists) or random (if it does not exist) changes in the policy instrument(s).