The Macroeconomic Determinants of the Term Structure of Inflation Expectations in Brazil

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the dynamics of inflation expectations according to macroeconomics conditions. To this end, we extract the expected inflation curve implied by indexed bonds and then estimate a dynamic factor model. The factors corresponds to the level, slope and curvature of the term structure, varying over time as a function of the exchange rate, inflation, commodities index and the CDS-implied Brazil risk. A standard deviation shock in the exchange rate increases inflation more in the short and long terms than in the medium run. The same pattern arises in the presence of a shock in inflation. A shock in commodity prices increases inflation mostly in the short term, stabilizing notwithstanding at a higher level than the original curve. In contrast, a shock in the CDS shifts down the expected inflation curve in a virtually parallel manner.