The aim of this research is to check whether the Taylor rule in its simple linear form can be viewed as an appropriate description of the monetary policy pursued by Norway’s central bank – Norges Bank, and whether this rule can be used for forecasting purposes. Not only does this research focus on the original Taylor rule, but it also deals with its extended version designed for small open economies such as Norway. A conclusion about whether regressions can produce reliable coefficient estimates is drawn on the basis of time series’ properties tests and cointegration tests. The performance of the simple-form Taylor equation is compared to its alternative forms through forecasting exercises. The study has shown that the extended version of the Taylor rule with interest rate smoothing and augmented with the real exchange rate, the policy rate of the EU and oil prices can be viewed as a close approximation of Norges Bank’s monetary policy and can be used for forecasting purposes.

The thesis deals with a monetary phenomenon of price deflation. In modern monetary theories, causes are sometimes confused with consequences. As to price deflation, consequences of causes of this phenomenon are often attributed to it while it is not a cause but a mere consequence. That's why we have identified causes of price deflation and their true consequences in the thesis. According to quantity theory of money, there are three main sources of price deflation as follows: decline in money supply, decline in velocity of circulation of money, and productivity growth. These causes are analyzed in detail, each of them in a single chapter. Price deflation is often associated with depressions while in some cases it might be a mere consequence of depression, not a cause. On the other hand, price deflation might also be a consequence of productivity growth (unless accommodated by increase in money supply) which makes it perfectly compatible with a healthy and growing economy.