The conundrum of repo rate arguments

Monetary policy always triggers debate as theoretical arguments on both sides: repo rate induces investment or repo rate lowers inflation are equally strong

- MADAN SABNAVIS

THERE IS A growing voice that the repo rate needs to be cut; and this message also comes from some of the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. The advocates of a rate cut have also reiterated that when inflation is high due to food inflation, a high repo rate cannot quite bring down prices of food items. Therefore, logically, the focus should be on growth which could be under pressure.

The important point here is that the MPC has been mandated to target headline inflation at 4% within a band of 2%. This target is cast in stone and bringing in any other consideration may be viewed to be outside its mandate. So, if one wants to leave aside food inflation it would mean going back to the mandate and changing it. There are talks of revising the composition of the consumer price index, which is fair enough. Once done the weights would change, and if food has a lower weight it should reflect in the overall index.