ECONOMICS (CBSE/UGC NET)

ECONOMICS

MONETARY POLICY

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
In the market for reserves, if the federal funds rate is above the interest rate paid on excess reserves, then an open market ____ the supply of reserves, raising the federal funds interest rate, everything else held constant.
A
sale decreases
B
sale increases
C
purchase increases
D
purchase decreases
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -If the federal funds rate, or the rate at which banks are willing to lend reserves to each other, equals the rate paid on excess reserves by the Fed, the commercial banks will be indifferent between the two options.

Detailed explanation-2: -If the federal funds rate is above the interest on reserve balances rate, then banks will seek to increase the return on their money by withdrawing funds from their reserve balance accounts at the Fed and lending these funds out in the federal funds market.

Detailed explanation-3: -Key Takeaways Conversely, by raising the banks’ reserve requirements, the Fed can decrease the size of the money supply. The Fed can also alter short-term interest rates by lowering (or raising) the discount rate that banks pay on short-term loans from the Fed.

Detailed explanation-4: -An increase in the federal funds rate typically causes other market interest rates to rise, which damps consumer and business spending, slowing economic activity and reducing inflationary pressure.

There is 1 question to complete.