Description
The Federal Reserve has control over the nation’s monetary policy. Through adjusting the required reserve ratio, buying and selling government bonds on the open market, or adjusting the discount rate, the Fed can influence interest rates and the money supply in the country. When we talk about interest rates, it’s important to distinguish between long-term and Short-term interest rates. Short-term interest rates are directly affected when the Fed changes its federal funds and discount rates and are for loans made for short periods. long-term interest rates are set by market forces. Lower long-term interest rates encourage investment by businesses and consumers because the cost of paying back the money over a long period is low. Keep this distinction in mind while you complete the following activity. Considering the current state of the economy and what you know about monetary policy, do you think the Federal Reserve should increase interest rates, decrease interest rates, or keep interest rates constant? Why? Using an Internet search engine, find a website or an article that contains an editorial or opinion piece that shares your opinion and copy the URL in the space below. Keep in mind that it might take you some time to find a good article, so don’t automatically take the first one you find. List three main points from the source you found that explain the author’s reasoning. Based on what you have read, what bias might the author bring to his or her opinion? Using an Internet search engine, find a website or an article that expresses the opposite to your opinion and copy the URL in the space below. Keep in mind that it might take you some time to find a good article, so don’t automatically take the first one you find. List three main points from the source you found that explain the author’s reasoning. Based on what you have read, what bias might the author bring to his or her opinion?Part A
Part B
Part C
Part D
Part E
Part F
Part G
Putting It All Together: The Debate
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Running Head: ANALYZING INTEREST RATES
Analyzing Interest Rates
Institutional Affiliation
Date
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ANALYZING INTEREST RATES
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Part A
The Federal Reserve bears the responsibility of regulating interest rates which in turn
influence the banking and lending systems as well as other business exchanges. The Central
Bank which usually decides the interest rates focuses on the future of the economy. As such,
when the rates of inflation are predicted to increase, the bank usually encourages saving and
reduced spending by increasing the interest rates. As a result, the government is usually able to
regulate economic growth and reduce the levels of inflation. In the event that there is a perceived
decrease in the inflation, the Federal Reserve lowers the interest rates thereby increasing
spending and allowing for the inflation to reach the required balance. As such, it is important that
the rate of interest is regulated higher or lower than the normal rate to balance resources between
banks and the Federal Reserve.
Part B
https://www.amacad.org/content/publications/pubContent.aspx?d=22290
Part C
The article mainly explains that the Federal Reserve is actually a political institution. The
main idea is that the Federal Reserve is much like an institution divorced from politics into its
normal functioning.
According to the article, the birth of the Federal Reserve Bank in itself was deeply political as it
was a Republican initiative that resembled an institution introduced by Democrats, Populists, and
ANALYZING INTEREST RATES
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