Chapter 13 Appendix Outline |
II. THE FEDERAL RESERVE AND CONTROL OF THE MONEY SUPPLY |
A. Open Market Operations |
| 1. The Federal Reserve can increase the money supply by purchasing U.S.
Treasury securities. |
| a. The purchase of securities increases the amount of reserves in the system,
thereby increasing loan activity. |
| 2. The Federal Reserve can decrease the money supply by selling U.S. Treasury securities. |
| a. The sale of securities decreases the amount of reserves in the system,
thereby decreasing loan activity. |
| 3. Open market operations are the tool generally used to alter the money supply. |
B. Reserve Requirements |
| 1. The Federal Reserve can increase the money supply by lowering the reserve
requirement. |
| a. Lowering the reserve requirement increases excess reserves in the system,
thereby increasing loan activity. |
| 2. The Federal Reserve can decrease the money supply by increasing the reserve requirement. |
| a. Increasing the reserve requirement decreases excess reserves in the
system, thereby decreasing loan activity. |
| 3. Changes in reserve requirements are rarely used to alter the money supply. |
C. The Discount Rate |
| 1. The discount rate is the interest rate at which depository institutions can
borrow from Federal Reserve Banks. |
| 2. The Federal Reserve can increase the money supply by lowering the discount
rate. |
| a. Lowering the discount rate gives depository institutions a greater incentive
to borrow, thereby increasing their reserves and lending activity. |
| 3. The Federal Reserve can decrease the money supply by increasing the discount rate. |
| a. Increasing the discount rate gives depository institutions less incentive to
borrow, thereby decreasing their reserves and lending activity. |
| 4. Because depository institutions are discouraged from borrowing from their Federal Reserve Banks except as a last resort, the discount rate can change significantly without altering the money supply. |