When setting the funds rate according to a Taylor rule, policymakers may find themselves confronted with the zero interest rate bound. In particular, in a very low-inflation environment, where on average the funds rate is close to zero, policymakers may lack room to lower rates enough to stabilize the economy in an economic downturn. In contrast, in a high-inflation, high interest rate environment, the zero bound is unlikely to bind, leaving policymakers ample room to lower the funds rate downward in response to falling output or inflation.