Econ Exam #3 (Macro pt1) Flashcards
Money is an upgrade to what system that proved inefficient due to instances of double coincidence of wants?
The Barter system
What is double coincidence of wants?
When two people have what the other person wants and wish to trade.
Money is an _____ good that people use to ____ g&s from other people?
intermediate; buy
Medium of exchange: an item buyers give to sellers when they want to _____.
purchase g&s
Unit of account: the _____ people use to post prices and record debts.
yardstick
Store of value: an item people can use to transfer ____________ from the present to the future.
purchasing power
Standard of deferred payment: an item used not only as a medium of exchange today, but also to purchase today and pay for items when?
in the future
What is commodity money? Give examples
“money” is a commodity with intrinsic value such as gold
Reprsentative commodity money represents a commodity from a specific time such as____.
US$ from WWII
What if Fiat money? Give examples.
Money without intrinsic value, used as money because it has government decree. Ex: current US$
What is the money supply?
The quantity of money available in the economy.
What is considered part of the money supply?
currency (paper bills/coins in circulation), demand deposits (checkable deposits), and savings deposits.
What is included in M1?
currency, checkable and savings deposits. M1 is approximately 18 trillion.
What is in M2?
Everything in M1 plus certificates of deposit, small time deposits, money market funds. M2 is approximately 20.8 trillion.
True or False: M1 is smaller than M2 but more liquid.
True (M1 is easier to access)
Banks are _____ as they do what?
intermediaries; create money
In fractional reserve banking systems, banks keep a fraction of deposits as _____ and use the rest to make loans.
reserves
Reserves are typically in the form of what two things?
Vault cash & deposits with the FED.
A T-account is a _______ that shows a bank’s assets & liabilities.
simplified accounting statement
What are assets? Liabilities?
Assets are what the bank owns (reserves, loans, securities, etc.)
Liabilities are what the bank owes (deposits, capital, debt, etc.)
_______ : the resources a bank obtains by issuing equity to its owners. (bank’s assets minus liabilities)
Bank capital
______: the use of borrowed funds to supplement existing funds for investment purposes.
Leverage
Leverage Ratio is the ratio of _____ to bank capital?
assets
Ex:
(Assets)
Reserves: $200
Loans $700
Securities $100
(Liabilities)
Deposits $800
Debt $150
Capital $50
Lev.Ratio = ($200+$700+$100)/$50 = 20
So, for every $20 in assets, $1 is from the bank’s owners, and $19 is financed with borrowed money.
To ______ assets means to increase bank capital and owner’s equity.
appreciate
If a bank’s assets decrease below 5%, the capital is _____ and the bank is insolvenet.
negative; this is what happened in the 08/09 recession.
Many banks became insolvent during the 08/09 recessions due to credit crunch where banks with too little ____ reduce lending.
capital. The Fed & Treasury injected money in an attempt to solve this.
The Stress Test by Tim Geithner did what?
Required big federations to pass a stress test on their capital that proved they had enough capital to handle a possible crash like 08/09.
What is a capital requirement?
A government regulation that specifies a minimum amount of capital. It is intended to ensure banks will be able to pay off depositors and debts. It acts as a buffer.
True or False: Inflation is the increase in the total level of prices.
False; inflation affects the general level.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the ____ measure of inflation used in the U.S.
primary
What does the CPI measure?
The “typical” consumer’s cost of living.
What are COLAs
the basis of cost of living allowances/adjustments.
How is the CPI calculated?
- Fix the basket.
- Find the prices.
- Compute the basket cost.
- Choose a base yr and compute the index.
- Compute the inflation rate.
What is the CPI formula?
100(cost of basket current yr/cost of basket in base yr)
What is the inflation rate definition/formula?
The % change in the CPI from the previous year.
Inflation rate = (CPI this yr - CPI last yr)/CPI last yr
All multiplied by 100%
True or False: the base yr index is always 100.
True!
What MUST remain the same when conducting CPI and inflation rates?
The basket quantity!
What is included in the CPI basket?
Housing, Food/Beverage, Transportation, Medical care, Education/Communication, Recreation, Other g&s, and Apparel.
What can the CPI be used for?
indexation, comparing prices over time, & finding real vs. nominal interest rates.
indexation means something is automatically ______ for inflation by law or contract. Examples include COLA and the adjustments in Social Security payments/federal income tax brackets.
corrected
The CPI can adjust figures so they can be compared over time. What is the formula?
Amount in “today’s $” =
(Amount in unknown yr$) times (price level “today”/price level in unknown yr)
What is the nominal interest rate?
Interest rate NOT corrected for inflation. This is the rate of growth in the dollar (face) value of a deposit or debt.
What is the real interest rate?
Corrected for inflation, this rate of growth shows the purchasing power of a deposit or debt.