ECONOMICS (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -What Does a Higher Reserve Requirement Mean? A higher reserve requirement means the Federal Reserve is pursuing a contractionary monetary policy. If banks have a higher reserve requirement, there will be less money available to lend to consumers and businesses.

Detailed explanation-2: -Every time a dollar is deposited into a bank account, a bank’s total reserves increases. The bank will keep some of it on hand as required reserves, but it will loan the excess reserves out. When that loan is made, it increases the money supply. This is how banks “create” money and increase the money supply.

Detailed explanation-3: -Increasing the (reserve requirement) ratios reduces the volume of deposits that can be supported by a given level of reserves and, in the absence of other actions, reduces the money stock and raises the cost of credit.

Detailed explanation-4: -When the Federal Reserve decreases the reserve ratio, it lowers the amount of cash that banks are required to hold in reserves, allowing them to make more loans to consumers and businesses. This increases the nation’s money supply and expands the economy.