The Federal Reserve's Monetary Policy

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Introduction The Federal Reserve makes many decisions which can alter the course an economy takes. The Reserve has quite a bit of influence on how an economy recovers from both recessions and rising inflation due to extreme growth. A closer look will be made at the importance and function of money and how the central bank manages a nation’s monetary system. An explanation will be made to show what effects the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy has on the economy’s production and employment. Finally, a look inside the most recent Chairman’s Report will explain what direction the Reserve has decided to move in regards to monetary policy. Purpose and Function of Money The purpose of money is to act as a valued asset that is accepted for…show more content…
Interest rates remain extremely low and the latest report suggests some members discussing the possibility of making additional policy stimulus to help drive the economy out of its slump. The Reserve’s decision to leave the interest rate at its current low setting confirms that current monetary policy is to influence growth or, and expansionary monetary policy (Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve System, 2010). Monetary Policy’s Effect on Employment and…show more content…
As the Reserve increases interest rates, it effectively lowers the demand for money. Increasing the interest rates would be in the Reserves best interest when the nation is experiencing rising inflation. This type of monetary policy is called contractionary monetary policy (Hubbart, 869). On the other hand, to increase demand for money the Reserve can decrease the interest rate. Decreasing the interest rate effectively increases consumer and businesses consumption. Lower interest rates also increase investments and net exports (Hubbard, 868). These increases push true GDP back in line with potential GDP and, as a result, production increases. This increase in production also increases the need for workers, ultimately increasing employment. Conclusion The Federal Reserve is a very powerful entity and has a large amount of influence on how our nation’s economy performs. The Reserve manages our nation’s monetary system through three primary functions; open market operations, discount policies and reserve requirements. The Federal Reserve’s current monetary policy shows an expansionary policy to influence economic growth. The Reserve has an effect of our nation’s production and employment rate as it influences the money demand and interest
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