Final Macro Test Flashcards
If banks choose to increase their R/D, the DM and MM will…
fall because banks are lending less, so borrowing, spending and depositing have decreased.
If banks choose to decrease their R/D, the DM and MM will…
rise because banks are lending more, so borrowing, spending and depositing increase.
If depositors choose to increase their C/D, the MM will…
fall because people aren’t depositing money in the bank as they are holding more cash.
If depositors choose to decrease their C/D, the MM will…
rise because people hold less cash, and are depositing more.
What functions must any item fulfill in order to be used as money?
- medium of exchange: acceptable as payment
- unit of account: agreed measure for stating prices
- store of value: must be able to hold it and use it later
What is a commodity money system?
when any object is attributed a value and is being used as money… most often used coins of gold, silver, and copper.
What are some problems associated with the commodity money system?
clipping: shaving off the edges of the coin and using the scrapings to make newer and thinner coins.
debasement: when a monarch recalls existing coins, takes them out of circulation, and replaces them with newer smaller coins. this often triggers inflations.
opportunity cost: loss of personal security from carrying actual gold or silver with you.
What is the convertible paper money system? Its problems?
It is paper money that is fully/partly represented by either gold or silver.
problem: cost of storage and protection from theft.
What is the fiat money system?
it is a naturally worthless comidity that serves the purpose of money. it would be considered money because the government declares it as “legal tender”.
What does the money supply consist of?
Ms = Currency + Deposits
- Currency: notes and coins NOT in banks (are in circulation)
- Deposits (aka demand deposits): checking and savings accounts
What are the measures the Bank of Canada uses to keep track of the money supply?
M1: currency + checking accounts
M2: M1 + savings accounts
Are cheques, debit cards and credit cards considered money?
NO. they transfer money from one mean to another.
What are financial intermediaries?
they are businesses that have a federal licence to take in deposits and extend loans. this includes chartered banks (commercial banks), caisse populaires, and trust companies.
What are the assets and the liabilities of chartered banks?
assets: reserves and loans
liabilities: deposits
what is the R/D ratio?
Reserve/Deposit Ratio. it’s the proportion of deposits that banks wish to keep on reserve to cover withdrawals. so if R/D = 0.2, then for each 1$, the bank keep 0.20$.
What is the C/D ratio?
Currency/Deposit Ratio. it’s the proportion of cash available for deposit that people instead keep on them in the form of cash. so if C/D = 0.2, then for each 1$, the person will keep 0.20$ in cash form.
Where do banks keep a portion of the money deposited?
In reserves, in ATM machines, the vault or on deposit at the Bank of Canada.
What is the formula for deposit multiplier (DM)?
DM = 1/(R/D)
What is the formula for money multiplier (MM)?
MM = (1 + C/D) / (R/D + C/D)
If there is a large purchase of bonds, would bond prices rise or fall? Would interest rates on bonds rise or fall?
prices would rise, interest rates would fall
If there is a large volume of sales of bonds, would bond prices rise or fall? Would interest rates on bonds rise or fall?
prices would fall, interest rates would rise
What can the bank do instead of borrowing from a bank when they are in debt?
They can sell bonds or treasury bills (T bills).
What is a bond?
it is a promise to pay back they money borrowed (called the face value) with interest over a period LONGER than 1 year. The interest paid is FIXED and is paid every year or every 6 months.
What is the yield and how to calculate it?
The yield is the amount you will receive when the bond reaches maturity.
yield (r) = coupon (fixed amount) / bond price x 100
Let’s suppose you bought a bond at a 10% interest rate. Then it goes up to 12.5% while you’re in the life of the bond. Is it a good idea to sell the bond?
No, because it only yields 10%, so your bond would be unattractive. You would have to sell for less than you paid for it.
Let’s suppose you bought a bond at 10% interest rate, and before its 4-year maturity date, the interest goes down to 8%. Is it a good idea to sell the bond?
Yes, because the bond would be attractive since it pays higher than everything else on the market. You would sell for more than you paid for it.
What are Treasury Bills (T-Bills)?
They are SHORT-TERM debt instruments issued by the government. They would have the same face value, but no coupons since they mature in 1 year or less.
What is the objective of the Bank of Canada (B of C)?
to keep inflation between 1% and 3%. its more about controlling inflation than unemployment.
What are the functions of the Bank of Canada?
- Manage monetary policy of Canada: decide on expansionary or contractionary policy
- Control Canada’s money supply: if Ms increases too rapidly, interest rates fall and inflation can occur. If Ms increases too slowly. interest rates can rise and recession can occur.
- Bank of the chartered banks
- Support the financial system: to reduce uncertainty about the direction of interest rates by making only gradual changes to interest rates, making regular policy statements and keeping inflation low
- Fiscal agent and financial advisor to the government
What does the Bank of Canada do to increase money supply?
they will lower interest rates to increase money supply, which will also grow investment. this is expansionary monetary policy (AD shifts right)
What does the Bank of Canada do to decrease the money supply?
they will increase interest rate to decrease money supply, which will also make investment fall. this is contractionary monetary policy (AD shifts left)
What is OMO?
open market operation. requires buying or selling of bonds and t-bills by the Bank of Canada
What is the Bank Rate? Who is the lender and the borrower? Why would banks borrow from the B of C?
The bank rate is the interest rate charged by the bank of canada for loans and reserves to chartered banks.
the lender is the bank of canada and the borrower is the chartered bank.
to not have to borrow from other banks at higher interest rates than the bank rate.
What is the target overnight rate? When does the B of C refer to it and why?
The target overnight rate is the mid-point between the bank rate and the bankers deposit rate.
to reduce uncertainty, the B of c announces its interest rate policy intentions in 8 policy statements per year by referring to the target overnight rate.
If the B of C lowers the Bank Rate, will AD shift to the right or left?
If the B of C increases the Bank rate, will AD shift to the right of left?
if bank rate increases, it means its more expensive for banks to borrow reserves if they run short. chartered banks will eventually hold more reserves, extend fewer loans, and raise interest rates. this is contractionary monetary policy, so AD will shift left.
the reverse would happen if the bank rate is lowered.
What is the Prime Rate?
the prime rate is the interest rate charged by the chartered banks on loans to their best corporate customers.
What are redeposits, and do they make the Ms rise or fall? Will interest rates rise or fall? Do redeposits make AD shift to the right or left?
redeposits are when the BofC shifts the government deposits from the BofC to chartered banks. banks deposits and cash reserves rise, interest rates on loans will fall, lending will increase and the money supply grows. AD shifts right (expansionary)
What are drawdowns, and do they make the money supply rise or fall? Will interest rates rise or fall? Do redeposits make AD shift to the right or left?
drawdowns are when the BofC shifts government deposits from the chartered banks to BofC. bank deposits and cash reserves fall, interest rates on loans rise, lending decreases and the Ms falls. AD shifts left (contractionary)
What are the three ways the government can use to finance the deficits?
- Money financing
- Internal debt financing
- External debt financing
Discuss the “money financing” technique.
- The government borrows from the Bank of Canada
- This is expansionary for Y
- No effects on interest rates
- Compound interest payments a concern for the government? NO gov owns BofC
- Problems: very strong risk of hyperinflation if the amount borrowed from the BofC is large
- Advantage: necessary for open market operations
Discuss the “internal debt financing” technique.
- The government borrows from the bondholders IN Canada
- No effects on Y since investment falls but G rises
- interest rates rise
- Compound interest payments a concern for the government? YES
- Problems: Crowding out and uneven redistribution of income
- Advantage: investors like government bonds are considered secure
What are the problems related to internal debt financing?
-Crowding out G rises but at the expense of investment falling
-uneven redistribution of income
What is crowding out?
when government debt causes government spending to increase as a % of GDP while investment falls as a % of GDP