Economics 102

L. Stone

Spring 2003

Quiz 9

 

1. The Fed decides to use a expansionary monetary policy.

a. Buy bonds or lower reserve requirements or lower the discount rate (Note that “lower interest rates” is not a complete answer, because either the Fed is lowering the discount rate or it’s buying bonds to lower the federal funds rate)

b. On the graphs below, carefully show the effects of this policy on the economy. Briefly explain in words or symbols below. (10 points)

Graphs must correspond with the following explanation and be correctly labeled.

Money supply increases which causes interest rates to fall which cause the quantity of investment to increase which causes C + I + G to increase, and thus output increases.

c. Carefully explain how your answer would be different in an open economy. (7 points)

In an open economy, the decrease in the interest rate makes U.S. bonds LESS attractive to overseas savers.(2) Thus the demand for dollars (NOT the demand for money) decreases (1), and the dollar depreciates. (1) The depreciation of the dollar causes the price of U.S. goods to fall relative to foreign goods (1), and thus U.S. exports increase, and U.S. imports decrease. (1) C + I + G + (X-M) increases further due to the rise in net exports, and thus Y falls further. (2) Monetary policy is more effective in an open economy.

(It is ok if it just says something like, less attractive to save in US, value of $ falls, net exports rise, output rises further)

2.  For each of the following examples, find the change in the monetary base, the change in bank deposits (after all rounds of expansion or contraction are completed) and the change in the money supply.  The reserve requirement is 5%.  (6 points)

 

a.   The Fed sells $50,000 worth of government bonds to banks.

 

Change in base = -50,000

Change in deposits = -1,000,000

Change in money supply = -1,000,000

 

b.  You deposit $3,000 in your checking account.

 

Change in base = 0

Change in deposits = 60,000

Change in money supply = 57,000