ECONOMICS (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Open market operations (“OMOs”) are the central bank’s primary tool of monetary policy. If the central bank wants interest rates to be lower, it buys bonds. Buying bonds injects money into the money market, increasing the money supply.

Detailed explanation-2: -To increase the (growth of the) money supply, the Fed could either buy bonds, lower the reserve requirement ratio, or lower the discount rate. To decrease the (growth of the) money supply, the Fed could either sell bonds, raise the reserve requirement ratio, or raise the discount rate.

Detailed explanation-3: -The correct option is a): increases, so the money supply increases. When the Fed purchases government bonds, it buys them from the banks. On purchasing the bonds, the Fed pays the banking system the amount of the bonds purchased. Thus, the amount of money with the banks increases through an increase in their reserves.

Detailed explanation-4: -By buying or selling bonds, bills, and other financial instruments in the open market, a central bank can expand or contract the amount of reserves in the banking system and can ultimately influence the country’s money supply. When the central bank sells such instruments it absorbs money from the system.

Detailed explanation-5: -Today, the Fed uses its tools to control the supply of money to help stabilize the economy. When the economy is slumping, the Fed increases the supply of money to spur growth. Conversely, when inflation is threatening, the Fed reduces the risk by shrinking the supply.