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                                                                                    Working Paper
                                                                                
                                            The Optimal Monetary Instrument and the (Mis)Use of Causality Tests
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                                                                    
                                                                                                    This paper uses a New-Keynesian model with multiple monetary assets to show that if the choice of instrument is based solely on its propensity to predict macroeconomic targets, a central bank may choose an inferior policy instrument. We compare a standard interest rate rule to a k-percent rule for three alternative monetary aggregates determined within our model: the monetary base, the simple sum measure of money, and the Divisia measure. Welfare results are striking. While the interest rate dominates the other two monetary aggregate k-percent rules, the Divisia k-percent rule outperforms the ...