Monetary Policy Flashcards
definition of monetary policy
monetary policy involves changes in interest rates, the supply of money & credit and exchange rates to influence the economy
Points of expansionary monetary policy (increasing AD)
- fall in nominal and real interest rates
- measures to expand supply of credit
- depreciation of the exchange rate
Points of deflationary monetary policy (decreasing AD)
- higher interest rates on loans and savings
- tightening of credit supply (loans harder to get)
- appreciation of the exchange rate
describe the transmission mechanism
official bank rate: market rates
asset prices - domestic demand
expectations/confidence- external demand
exchange rate -import prices
-total demand- domestic inflationary pressure
: domestic inflationary pressure + import prices -inflation
what does the transmission mechanism show?
the effect of interest-rate changes
3 LCR for rising interest rates leading to falling inflationary pressure: saving, borrowing, mortgages
IR rise- more expensive to borrow- less incentive to borrow- falling consumer spending- falling AD- falling inflationary pressure
IR rise- more reward for saving- greater incentive to save- falling consumer spending- falling AD- falling inflationary pressure
IR rise- rates rise on variable rate mortgages- falling consumer spending- falling AD- falling inflationary pressure
what is the main monetary policy objective?
controlling inflation
definition of interest rates?
an interest rate is the reward for saving and the cost of borrowing expressed as a percentage of the money saved or borrowed
what is inflation rate targeting?
when the MPC of the bank of England sets interest rates in order to meet the inflation target set by government (2%)
different types of interest rates:
- interest rates on savings in bank and other accounts
-borrowing interest rates
-mortgage interest rates (housing loans)
- credit card interest rates and pay-day loans
- interest rates on government and corporate
loans
what is the real rate of return on savings?
money rate of interest minus the rate of inflation
when do real interest rates become negative?
when the nominal rate of interest is less than inflation
price deflation can lead to what?
an increase in real interest rates
likely effects of an increase in interest rates: (a decrease will have the opposite effect)
- less borrowing
- less consumer spending
- less investment by firms
- less confidence among consumers and firms
- more saving
- a decrease in exports
- a increase in imports
a reduction in interest rates or an increase in the supply of money and credit is a what type of monetary policy?
expansionary monetary policy
what is expansionary monetary policy?
uses lower interest rates to increase aggregate demand and shift the AD curve to the right. designed to boost consumer confidence and demand during a downturn/recession
how a increase in interest rates decreases aggregate demand?
-higher interest rates reduce household consumption:
-ppl save, less income available for C
-cost of borrowing increases, increases of credit
card debt, less money to spend on C
-high IR, asset prices fall, reduce personal wealth,
reduces C
-falling house and share prices reduce consumer
confidence, deflates C
-higher interest rates reduce business investment
-higher borrowing costs make buying capital
goods unprofitable
-changes in interest rates affect exports and imports via exchange rate
-higher interest rate increases demand for
pounds, causes pounds exchange rate to rise,
UK exports less price competitive in world
markets and imports more competitive in UK
markets, UK BOP on current account worsens
impact of lower interest rates- demand side and draw diagram
-slow economic growth feed through to lower inflation may cut interest rates
-reduces savings ratio and makes borrowing more attractive so C rises
-increases real national output from Y to Y1
LRAS curve AD shifts to the right up curve from AD to AD1: creates employment
impact of lower interest rates- supply side and draw diagram
-may stimulate businesses investment into capital process to improve their productivity and efficiency: shift LRAS to LRAS1
-investment is a component of AD so AD shifts to AD1
-productive capacity increased to FE1 and increase in AD feed through to higher growth and employment
LRAS shifts to the right to LRAS1, AS moves up curve to right to AD1
what happens when people are pessimistic about future of the economy and prefer to hold onto their money and unlikely to borrow any more? what will lowering interest rates do and whats this an example of?
lowering interest rates wont have an effect and monetary policy will become ineffective. this is an example to liquidity trap
impact of higher interest rates LCR:
- raises interest rates
- tighter monetary policy
- market interest rates increase
- cost of borrowing rises
- main effect through mortgages
- possible slowdown in housing market
- contraction in retail credit
- higher rates might also cause currency appreciation
- makes UK exports more expensive in overseas market
- lower demand
- domestic inflation
- inflation
what is the bank rate?
the lowest rate at which the bank of England will lend to financial institutions. (ISNT rate of interest pay for mortgage or bank loan but they are linked)