CH 14
CH 14
Student: ___________________________________________________________________________
1. In the AS/AD model, an increase in the money supply causes an increase in the interest rate and an increase
in investment spending.
True False
2. A contractionary monetary policy decreases the money supply and the interest rate, which decreases
investment and output.
True False
3. The Fed's duties include acting as a lender of last resort and supervising or regulating a variety of financial
institutions.
True False
4. The three tools of monetary policy are open market operations, setting prices, and setting the velocity of
money.
True False
5. An increase in the federal funds rate is a signal that the Fed wants a tighter monetary policy.
True False
6. The Federal funds rate is the rate banks charge one another for overnight loans.
True False
7. A decrease in the Federal funds rate is an indication that monetary policy is expansionary.
True False
8. The Taylor Rule relates changes in the money supply to changes in interest rates.
True False
9. The art of monetary policy is acting in accordance with the Taylor Rule.
True False
10. According to the Taylor Rule, if current inflation is 2.5 percent, the target inflation rate is 2 percent, and
output is 1 percent above potential, the Fed will target the Federal funds rate at 5.25 percent.
True False
11. The Fed targets the interest rate by adjusting the money demand so that its targeted interest rate will
equalize the supply and demand for money.
True False
12. The difference between a standard and an inverted yield curve is that when the yield curve is inverted, the
longer term bond pays a lower interest rate than a short-term bond.
True False
13. The Federal Reserve has control over the long term interest rate.
True False
14. It would be practical for the Fed to buy bonds even when the Fed funds rate is zero.
True False
15. Who determines U.S. monetary policy?
A. Congress.
B. The President.
C. The Internal Revenue Service.
D. The Federal Reserve.
16. Monetary policy is one of the two main macroeconomic tools governments use to control the aggregate
economy, the other being:
A. fiscal policy.
B. foreign policy.
C. trade policy.
D. immigration policy.
17. Which of the following is not directly affected by monetary policy?
A. social spending.
B. tax rates.
C. the availability of credit.
D. the antitrust laws.
19. Expansionary monetary policy is always expected to increase:
A. must be expansionary.
B. must be contractionary.
C. cannot be expansionary or contractionary.
D. could be expansionary or contractionary.
21. Monetary policy affects:
A. only inflation.
B. only output.
C. both inflation and output.
D. neither inflation nor output.
22. Assuming an economy is initially at potential output, an expansionary monetary policy will:
A. increase by 7 percent.
B. increase by 1 percent.
C. decrease by 1 percent.
D. decrease by 7 percent.
28. If nominal income increases by 4 percent and the price level increases by 3 percent, real income must:
A. increase by 7 percent.
B. increase by 1 percent.
C. decrease by 1 percent.
D. decrease by 7 percent.
29. If real income increases by 4 percent and the price level increases by 3 percent, nominal income must:
A. increase by 7 percent.
B. increase by 1 percent.
C. decrease by 1 percent.
D. decrease by 7 percent.
30. Refer to the graph above. Monetary policy that shifts the AD curve from AD0 to AD2 is
A. expansionary.
B. contractionary.
C. neither expansionary nor contractionary since it does not affect output.
D. neither expansionary nor contractionary since it does not affect inflation.
31. Refer to the graph above. Monetary policy that shifts the AD curve from AD0 to AD1 and moves the
economy from A to B:
A. increases nominal output but not real output in the short run.
B. increases both real and nominal output in the short run.
C. increases real output but not nominal output in the short run.
D. doesn't increase real or nominal output in the short run.
32. Refer to the graph above. Suppose the economy is initially at O but then the Fed adopts an expansionary
monetary policy. The immediate effect of this policy will be to move the economy to:
A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
33. Refer to the graph above. Suppose the economy is initially at O but then the Fed adopts a contractionary
monetary policy. The long term effect of this policy will be to move the economy to:
A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
34. Refer to the graph above. Suppose the economy is initially at O but then the Fed adopts a contractionary
monetary policy. This policy will cause the economy to move to:
41. Refer to the graph above. When the Fed conducts an expansionary monetary policy, it:
A. A to C.
B. A to B.
C. C to D.
D. D to A.
43. Refer to the graph above. An example of the Fed conducting a contractionary monetary policy is shown by
a change in interest rates from:
A. i0 to i1.
B. i0 to i2.
C. i2 to i1.
D. i2 to i0.
44. The central bank in the U.S. does all the following except:
A. only monetary policy is used to influence the economy, and fiscal policy is not allowed.
B. only fiscal policy is used to influence the economy, and monetary policy is not allowed.
C. the agency responsible for monetary policy is not directly controlled by the government.
D. the agency responsible for fiscal policy is not directly controlled by the government.
47. When Ben Bernanke steps down as chairman of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, his successor
will be:
A. 6.
B. 8.
C. 12.
D. 15.
51. When there are no vacancies, how many people serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System?
A. 5.
B. 7.
C. 11.
D. 12.
52. The body that oversees the 12 regional Federal Banks is the:
A. deposits.
B. excess reserves.
C. required reserves.
D. demand (checkable) deposits.
63. The Federal Open Market Committee:
A. makes decisions that influence the amount of excess reserves available to banks.
B. reports directly to Congress.
C. makes decisions that influence the nation's fiscal policy.
D. determines who may buy and sell government bonds.
64. One of the duties of the Fed is to:
A. financial advisers for the government, telling them when raising taxes will raise revenue and when it
won't.
B. part of the Fed governor system and are given voting power on the FOMC.
C. individuals or organizations whose sole occupation is to follow the Fed's FOMC.
D. individuals or organizations whose sole occupation is to predict the future of the interest rates.
66. The reserve requirement for large banks on customer deposits in checking accounts is around:
A. 2 percent.
B. 5 percent.
C. 10 percent.
D. 15 percent.
67. Although rarely used, which of the following is an instrument the Fed has to conduct monetary policy?
A. decreases the amount of excess reserves and this eventually increases the money supply.
B. decreases the amount of excess reserves and this eventually decreases the money supply.
C. increases the amount of excess reserves and this eventually increases the money supply.
D. increases the amount of excess reserves and this eventually decreases the money supply.
74. Suppose the reserve requirement is 20% and there are no cash holdings or excess reserves. A $1 billion
purchase of government securities by the Fed will:
A. increase the potential amount of checkable deposits in the banking system by $5 billion.
B. increase the potential amount of checkable deposits in the banking system by $1 billion.
C. reduce the potential amount of checkable deposits in the banking system by $1 billion.
D. reduce the potential amount of checkable deposits in the banking system by $5 billion.
75. Suppose the reserve requirement is 20 percent and there are no cash holdings or excess reserves. A $1
billion sale of government securities by the Fed will:
A. 2.
B. 3.
C. 4.
D. 5.
77. If the cash-to-deposit ratio is 0.1 and the money multiplier is 2.5, the reserve requirement is:
A. 0.14.
B. 0.24.
C. 0.34.
D. 0.44.
78. Assuming that r = .05 and c = .25, the money multiplier is:
A. 4.07.
B. 4.17.
C. 4.27.
D. 4.37.
79. Assuming that r = .05 and c = .25, if reserves fall by 100, the money supply will decline by:
A. 400.
B. 407.
C. 417.
D. 427.
80. Assuming that r = .05 and c = .2, how much would reserves need to be increased to increase the money
supply by 500?
A. 25.17.
B. 100.17.
C. 104.17.
D. 204.17.
81. Which of the following is an example of a direct expansionary monetary policy action?
A. contract.
B. remain unchanged.
C. expand.
D. take on a value that cannot be determined from the information given.
98. If the Fed simultaneously lowers the reserve requirement and sells government bonds, the money supply
will:
A. contract.
B. remain unchanged.
C. expand.
D. move in a way that cannot be determined from the information given.
99. If the Fed simultaneously reduces the discount rate and the required reserve ratio, the money supply will:
A. contract.
B. remain unchanged.
C. expand.
D. take on a value that cannot be determined from the information given.
100.Banks can borrow reserves from each other through:
A. Open-market operations.
B. The discount rate.
C. A change in reserve requirements.
D. Margin requirements.
107.The interest rate banks charge each other to borrow excess reserves is called the:
A. discount rate.
B. required reserve ratio.
C. prime rate.
D. Federal funds rate.
108.The Fed announces what it is doing with monetary policy in terms of a target for:
A. discount rate.
B. reserve requirement.
C. Federal funds rate.
D. monetary base.
109.An increase in the Federal funds rate could be caused by:
A. buy bonds.
B. sell bonds.
C. increase the reserve requirement.
D. increase the discount rate.
116.Suppose the Fed funds rate is below the Fed's target range. The Fed could:
A. buy bonds.
B. reduce the reserve requirement.
C. increase the reserve requirement.
D. cut the discount rate.
117.If the Fed wants a tighter monetary policy, it might:
A. offensive actions.
B. defensive actions.
C. both offensive and defensive actions.
D. neither offensive nor defensive actions.
120.When the Fed raised interest rates between 2004 and 2007, the Federal Reserve:
A. bought U.S. government securities, thereby creating and supplying additional Federal funds.
B. sold U.S. government securities, thereby contracting funds to the Federal funds market.
C. speeded up the clearing of checks to make more funds available to banks.
D. encouraged banks to loan out funds to ease their reserve requirements and thus lower the demand for
Federal funds.
121.The defensive and offensive actions of the Fed differ because offensive actions are designed to:
A. tighten monetary policy and defensive actions are designed to ease monetary policy.
B. ease monetary policy and defensive actions are designed to tighten monetary policy.
C. change the current monetary policy while defensive actions are designed to reinforce the current
monetary policy.
D. reinforce the current monetary policy while defensive actions are designed to change the current
monetary policy.
122.If individuals suddenly increase their withdrawals from the banking system, the Federal funds rate should:
A. sales that would prevent the Fed funds rate from increasing.
B. sales that would prevent the Fed funds rate from decreasing.
C. purchases that would prevent the Fed funds rate from increasing.
D. purchases that would prevent the Fed funds rate from decreasing.
124.If the Fed funds rate rises above the Fed's target range, the Fed should take:
A. Sustainable growth.
B. The Federal funds rate.
C. Stable prices.
D. Stock prices.
129.Just prior to the year 2000, the Fed was concerned that people would make larger than normal bank
withdrawals out of fear of the Y2K computer bug. The Fed feared that this might disrupt the banking
system. The Fed wanted to use a defensive action to prevent any such disruption. This would take the form
of open market bond:
A. sales that would prevent the Fed funds rate from increasing.
B. sales that would prevent the Fed funds rate from decreasing.
C. purchases that would prevent the Fed funds rate from increasing.
D. purchases that would prevent the Fed funds rate from decreasing.
130.In 2008, the Fed followed an expansionary monetary policy, which was evident by the:
A. decrease in the Fed funds rate from 4 percent in January to .25 percent in December.
B. increase in the Fed funds rate from .25 percent in January to 4 percent in December.
C. decrease in the repo rate from 4 percent in January to .25 percent in December.
D. increase in the discount rate and decrease in the Fed fund rate by the same percentage points.
131.The Fed funds rate increased from 2.5 percent in February 2005 to 5.26 in February 2007. This change in
the Fed funds rate clearly indicates that during this period the Fed followed a(n):
A. Consumer confidence.
B. Sustainable growth.
C. Open market operation.
D. Fed funds rate.
136.The predictions of Fed behavior provided by the Taylor rule are:
A. never accurate.
B. seldom accurate.
C. reasonably accurate.
D. extremely accurate.
137.If inflation is one percentage point above the Fed's target, the Taylor rule predicts that the Fed will:
A. 1 percent.
B. 2.5 percent.
C. 3.5 percent.
D. 5 percent.
141.Using the Taylor rule, if inflation is 3 percent, desired inflation is 2 percent, and output is 2 percentage
points above potential, the Fed will target a Fed funds rate of:
A. 6.5.
B. 4.5.
C. 3.5.
D. 3.
142.Using the Taylor rule, if inflation is 1 percent, desired inflation is 2 percent, and output is 2 percentage
points above potential, the Fed will target a Fed funds rate of:
A. 6.5.
B. 4.5.
C. 3.5.
D. 3.
143.Using the Taylor rule, if inflation is 3 percent, desired inflation is 2 percent, and output is 2 percentage
points below potential, the Fed will target a Fed funds rate of:
A. 6.5.
B. 4.5.
C. 3.5.
D. 3.
144.Using the Taylor rule, if inflation is 1 percent, desired inflation is 2 percent, and output is 2 percentage
points below potential, the Fed will target a Fed funds rate of:
A. 6.5.
B. 4.5.
C. 2.5.
D. 1.5.
145.During 2007, the Fed funds rate was at its target 3.5 percent, inflation was 1.5 percent, and target inflation
was 2.5 percent. If the Taylor rule is accurate, the output was:
A. they wanted to reduce the value of the dollar and help domestic exporters.
B. they were worried about inflation creeping into the economy.
C. they wanted to avoid deflation and the resulting recession.
D. they wanted to follow the Taylor Rule.
147.Between 2002 and 2006 the Federal Reserve:
A. allowing banks to invest in high-risk assets, even though there was a risk of them defaulting.
B. lowering interest rates, despite the fact that the Taylor rule indicated keeping them high.
C. not regulating non bank financial institutions who were coming up with innovative mortgages.
D. following the Taylor Rule, which during the 2000s indicated that rates should be kept low.
150.Which of the following monetary policies reduces aggregate demand and output?
A. no effect on output.
B. a modest effect on output at best.
C. a substantial effect on output.
D. a massive effect on output.
156.Suppose that investment is very responsive to interest rates, so that even a small change in interest rates has
a substantial effect on investment. In this case, expansionary monetary policy that results in a modest drop
in interest rates will:
A. downward sloping because as interest rates rise, the Fed will not supply as much money at lower interest
rates.
B. upward sloping because as interest rates rise, the Fed is willing to increase the quantity of money
supplied.
C. vertical because the Fed adjusts the supply of money to changes in the demand for money at a targeted
interest rate.
D. horizontal because the Fed adjusts the supply of money to changes in the demand for money at a targeted
interest rate.
174.If the Fed is targeting an interest rate, creating an effective supply curve of money and the demand for
money increases the Fed will:
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
179.Refer to the graph above. Which of the curves represents a normal yield curve?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
180.The standard discussion of monetary policy is based on the assumption that:
A. long-term rates will fall when the Fed pushes up short-term interest rates.
B. long-term rates will rise when the Fed pushes up short-term interest rates.
C. short-term rates will fall when the Fed pushes up long-term interest rates.
D. short-term rates will rise when the Fed pushes up long-term interest rates.
181.The standard discussion of monetary policy is based on the assumption that:
A. the entire yield curve shifts up when the Fed sells government bonds.
B. the entire yield curve shifts down when the Fed sells government bonds.
C. the yield curve becomes inverted when the Fed buys government bonds.
D. the yield curve becomes steeper when the Fed buys government bonds.
182.When an economy faces an inverted yield curve, compared to short-term bonds the long-term bonds:
A. are riskier.
B. pay lower interest rates.
C. pay higher interest rates.
D. are a safe investment.
183.Tools that the Fed uses to increase the money supply that are beyond the traditional tools are called:
A. contractionary tools.
B. fiscal tools.
C. quantitative easing tools.
D. qualitative easing tools.
184.Which of the following would not be considered an example of quantitative easing?
A. The Fed buys bonds from banks at a zero Fed funds rate.
B. The Fed buys mortgage backed securities.
C. The Fed buys money market funds.
D. The Fed sells bonds to banks.
185.Which of the following gives the correct relationship between nominal and real interest rates?
A. 2 percent.
B. 4 percent.
C. 6 percent.
D. 10 percent.
187.Suppose you are a borrower and you expect inflation to be 6 percent over the next year because inflation
was 6 percent in the last year. If you do not want to pay more than 2 percent in real terms for any loan you
take out, you will not borrow if the interest rate is greater than:
A. 2 percent.
B. 6 percent.
C. 8 percent.
D. 14 percent.
188.The observation that nominal interest rates have increased implies that:
A. -110 percent.
B. -190 percent.
C. 110 percent.
D. 190 percent.
190.Suppose the real interest rate in Brazil is 40 percent, actual inflation is 20 percent, and expected inflation is
20 percent. The nominal interest must then be:
A. 20 percent.
B. 40 percent.
C. 60 percent.
D. 80 percent.
191.When people expect higher inflation, usually nominal interest rates will:
A. fall.
B. rise.
C. remain unchanged.
D. move erratically.
192.Suppose a contractionary monetary policy raises nominal interest rates. If this is the case, it follows that the
contractionary monetary policy must have:
A. more effective than monetary policies because they produce smaller changes in inflationary
expectations.
B. less effective than monetary policies because they produce smaller changes in inflationary expectations.
C. less effective than monetary policies because they give policy makers greater discretion.
D. more effective than monetary policies because they give policy makers greater discretion.
ch14 Key
1. In the AS/AD model, an increase in the money supply causes an increase in the interest rate and an
increase in investment spending.
FALSE
An increase in the money supply increases the credit available to banks, which depresses interest rates
and increases business investment.
2. A contractionary monetary policy decreases the money supply and the interest rate, which decreases
investment and output.
FALSE
A contractionary monetary policy decreases the money supply and increases the interest rate, which
decreases investment and output.
3. The Fed's duties include acting as a lender of last resort and supervising or regulating a variety of
financial institutions.
TRUE
The Fed lends to banks that have no other alternative. It also oversees the operations of many financial
institutions.
FALSE
The Fed does conduct open market operations, but it does not set the price level or the velocity of
money. The last two variables are determined by the aggregate behavior of firms and households.
5. An increase in the federal funds rate is a signal that the Fed wants a tighter monetary policy.
TRUE
A higher federal funds rate is a signal to banks that the Fed wants to increase interest rates and pursue a
tighter monetary policy.
6. The Federal funds rate is the rate banks charge one another for overnight loans.
TRUE
The Federal funds rate is the rate banks pay when they borrow from one another.
7. A decrease in the Federal funds rate is an indication that monetary policy is expansionary.
TRUE
The Federal funds rate falls when excess reserves within the banking system increase. The increase in
excess reserves is an indication that monetary policy is contractionary.
FALSE
The Taylor Rule examines the relationship between inflation, output, and the Federal funds rate.
9. The art of monetary policy is acting in accordance with the Taylor Rule.
FALSE
Monetary policy is about deciding what model to use based on the situation that is encountered. It does
not involve having to strictly follow the Taylor Rule.
10. According to the Taylor Rule, if current inflation is 2.5 percent, the target inflation rate is 2 percent, and
output is 1 percent above potential, the Fed will target the Federal funds rate at 5.25 percent.
TRUE
Target rate = 2 + 2.5 + (0.5)(2.5 - 2) + 0.5 (1).
11. The Fed targets the interest rate by adjusting the money demand so that its targeted interest rate will
equalize the supply and demand for money.
FALSE
The Fed targets the interest rate by adjusting the money supply and not the money demand.
TRUE
When the yield curve is inverted, the long-term bonds pay a lower interest rate.
13. The Federal Reserve has control over the long term interest rate.
FALSE
The Fed can control the short term rate, but it can only hope that the long term interest rate will move in
the direction it wants. The Fed will take steps to try to influence the direction of the long term interest
rate.
14. It would be practical for the Fed to buy bonds even when the Fed funds rate is zero.
TRUE
This is what is referred to as quantitative easing and is done when the Fed cannot use conventional tools
to stimulate the economy.
A. Congress.
B. The President.
C. The Internal Revenue Service.
D. The Federal Reserve.
The Fed controls monetary policy through its ability to influence the banking system, credit, and the
money supply.
A. fiscal policy.
B. foreign policy.
C. trade policy.
D. immigration policy.
Fiscal policy affects the aggregate economy through changes in taxes and government outlays.
The budget deficit is determined directly by fiscal policy. Monetary policy does affect the budget deficit
through its effects on interest rates, but this is an indirect effect.
A. social spending.
B. tax rates.
C. the availability of credit.
D. the antitrust laws.
By altering bank reserves, the Fed can influence the availability of credit.
Expansionary monetary policy increases aggregate demand. The increase in aggregate demand leads to
an increase in real output, an increase in the price level, or both. In all of these cases, nominal income
rises.
20. A monetary policy that reduces both real and nominal income:
A. must be expansionary.
B. must be contractionary.
C. cannot be expansionary or contractionary.
D. could be expansionary or contractionary.
Contractionary monetary policy decreases aggregate demand. The decrease in aggregate demand leads
to a decrease in real output, a decrease in the price level, or both. In all three cases, nominal income
falls.
A. only inflation.
B. only output.
C. both inflation and output.
D. neither inflation nor output.
Monetary policy affects aggregate demand and hence both inflation and output.
In the long run, an expansionary monetary policy does not affect potential output and is translated
instead into higher prices, not higher output.
23. If the SAS curve is upward sloping but not vertical, monetary policy that affects nominal income but not
real income must result in the shift of:
This is only possible if the shift in the AD curve is completely offset by a shift in the SAS curve.
24. An expansionary monetary policy that affects the price level but not real output must result in the shift
of:
Since an expansionary policy reduces interest rates and increases aggregate demand, the AD curve
shifts out. Since this particular policy affects the price level but not real output, it must produce
inflationary pressures that shift the SAS curve up to the point at which output is unchanged.
In this case the entire increase in aggregate demand resulting from the expansionary monetary policy is
translated into higher prices with no change in real output.
In this case, changes in aggregate demand resulting from expansionary or contractionary monetary
policy are translated entirely into output changes with no change in the price level.
27. If nominal income increases by 3 percent and real income increases by 4 percent, the price level must:
A. increase by 7 percent.
B. increase by 1 percent.
C. decrease by 1 percent.
D. decrease by 7 percent.
Since the percentage change in real income equals the percentage change in nominal income minus the
percentage change in the price level, it follows that the price level must fall by 1 percent.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #27
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 14-1
Topic: AS/AD model
28. If nominal income increases by 4 percent and the price level increases by 3 percent, real income must:
A. increase by 7 percent.
B. increase by 1 percent.
C. decrease by 1 percent.
D. decrease by 7 percent.
Since the percentage change in real income equals the percentage change in nominal income minus the
percentage change in the price level, it follows that real income must rise by 1 percent.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #28
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 14-1
Topic: AS/AD model
29. If real income increases by 4 percent and the price level increases by 3 percent, nominal income must:
A. increase by 7 percent.
B. increase by 1 percent.
C. decrease by 1 percent.
D. decrease by 7 percent.
Since the percentage change in real income equals the percentage change in nominal income minus the
percentage change in the price level, it follows that nominal income must rise by 7 percent.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #29
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 14-1
Topic: AS/AD model
Colander - Chapter 14
30. Refer to the graph above. Monetary policy that shifts the AD curve from AD0 to AD2 is
A. expansionary.
B. contractionary.
C. neither expansionary nor contractionary since it does not affect output.
D. neither expansionary nor contractionary since it does not affect inflation.
Contractionary monetary policy would reduce economic activity and shift the AD curve in.
31. Refer to the graph above. Monetary policy that shifts the AD curve from AD0 to AD1 and moves the
economy from A to B:
A. increases nominal output but not real output in the short run.
B. increases both real and nominal output in the short run.
C. increases real output but not nominal output in the short run.
D. doesn't increase real or nominal output in the short run.
Since both real output and the price level rise, nominal output also rises.
Colander - Chapter 14
32. Refer to the graph above. Suppose the economy is initially at O but then the Fed adopts an expansionary
monetary policy. The immediate effect of this policy will be to move the economy to:
A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
In the short run, the increase in aggregate demand resulting from the expansionary monetary policy will
cause output to rise in some industries and prices to rise in others.
33. Refer to the graph above. Suppose the economy is initially at O but then the Fed adopts a contractionary
monetary policy. The long term effect of this policy will be to move the economy to:
A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
In the long run, the decrease in aggregate demand resulting from the contractionary monetary policy
will force down input prices until a new long-run equilibrium is reached at D.
34. Refer to the graph above. Suppose the economy is initially at O but then the Fed adopts a contractionary
monetary policy. This policy will cause the economy to move to:
In the short run, the decrease in aggregate demand resulting from the contractionary monetary policy
will cause output to fall in some industries and output prices to fall in others. In the long run, the
decrease in aggregate demand resulting from the contractionary monetary policy will force down input
prices until a new long-run equilibrium is reached at D.
A policy that contracts the money supply will raise interest rates and reduce investment and aggregate
demand.
36. If a contractionary monetary policy reduces nominal income but not real income, it must be true that
prices:
If real income is not affected by the contractionary monetary policy, it must be because the drop in
aggregate demand caused by the contractionary monetary policy is translated entirely into lower prices.
In this case, changes in aggregate demand resulting from expansionary or contractionary monetary
policy are translated entirely into output changes with no change in the price level.
Central banks control the ability to create money but have no power over taxes or government spending,
so they control only monetary policy.
Expansionary monetary policy increases aggregate demand by reducing interest rates. The aggregate
demand curve shifts to the right.
40. The effect of an expansionary monetary policy results in a shift of the aggregate demand to the right.
The effect of the monetary policy on the aggregate demand is:
The effect of the monetary policy on aggregate demand is indirect through the short-term and long-term
interest rates. The interest rates affect the supply and demand of loanable funds and investment. Since
investment is a component of the aggregate demand, the changes in investment will shift the aggregate
demand.
41. Refer to the graph above. When the Fed conducts an expansionary monetary policy, it:
Expansionary monetary policy would increase the quantity of money supply from M0 to M1.
42. Refer to the graph above. An economy is initially at M0 and the Fed conducts an expansionary
monetary policy. This is represented by a movement from:
A. A to C.
B. A to B.
C. C to D.
D. D to A.
Expansionary monetary policy would increase the quantity of money supplied from M0 to M1 and move
the equilibrium from A to B.
A. i0 to i1.
B. i0 to i2.
C. i2 to i1.
D. i2 to i0.
Contractionary monetary policy would decrease the quantity of money supplied from M0 to M2 and
increase the interest rate from i0 to i2.
44. The central bank in the U.S. does all the following except:
The central bank is a banker's bank. It does not loan money to individuals or corporations.
45. Congress has the power to do all of the following to the Fed except:
The Fed does not depend upon Congressional appropriations for its operating budget.
A. only monetary policy is used to influence the economy, and fiscal policy is not allowed.
B. only fiscal policy is used to influence the economy, and monetary policy is not allowed.
C. the agency responsible for monetary policy is not directly controlled by the government.
D. the agency responsible for fiscal policy is not directly controlled by the government.
The Fed is a semi-autonomous agency that is not under the direct control of the President or Congress.
47. When Ben Bernanke steps down as chairman of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, his
successor will be:
48. In the fall of 2008 the Federal Reserve lowered its target for the Federal funds rate to close to 0 percent.
What is the name of the group within the Federal Reserve that made this decision?
50. How many regional banks are in the Federal Reserve System?
A. 6.
B. 8.
C. 12.
D. 15.
See the text, especially the figure of the structure of the Fed.
51. When there are no vacancies, how many people serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System?
A. 5.
B. 7.
C. 11.
D. 12.
The Fed has seven governors all of whom the President appoints.
The Board of Governors oversees the operations of the 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks and the
conduct of U.S. monetary policy. The FOMC is the policy-making body of the Fed. See the figure in the
text for the relationship between the Board of Governors and regional banks.
53. The group that is comprised of 5 Presidents of Fed regional banks and 7 Fed governors that gathers
around a table to discuss whether to increase interest rates is the:
54. The explicit functions given to the Fed by the Congress include all of the following except:
Fighting unemployment and inflation are policy goals of the Fed and are not among the six explicit
functions given to the Fed by Congress.
56. All of the following are components of the Federal Reserve System except the:
57. Which of the following is not something the Fed can change directly?
The prime rate is controlled by commercial banks, and while it can be influenced by monetary policy, it
is not a tool of monetary policy.
Changing the exchange rate is not a tool of the Fed's monetary policy though occasionally it does try to
influence the exchange rate.
The monetary base represents the liabilities or IOUs of the Fed, which include vault cash plus
commercial bank deposits at the Fed.
The monetary base includes the liabilities of the Fed, which consist of vault cash, currency held by the
public, and commercial bank deposits at the Fed.
The reserve requirement gives the minimum fraction of bank deposits that can be held in the form of
reserves.
A. deposits.
B. excess reserves.
C. required reserves.
D. demand (checkable) deposits.
Banks are required by the Fed to hold required reserves, but they can lend out any reserves in excess of
their required reserves.
A. makes decisions that influence the amount of excess reserves available to banks.
B. reports directly to Congress.
C. makes decisions that influence the nation's fiscal policy.
D. determines who may buy and sell government bonds.
The open market operations of the Fed affect the money supply because they alter bank reserves.
The Fed duties consist of creation of money and financial advisor of the government.
A. financial advisers for the government, telling them when raising taxes will raise revenue and when it
won't.
B. part of the Fed governor system and are given voting power on the FOMC.
C. individuals or organizations whose sole occupation is to follow the Fed's FOMC.
D. individuals or organizations whose sole occupation is to predict the future of the interest rates.
Fed watchers are individuals or organizations whose sole occupation is to follow what the Fed is doing
through its chief body, the FOMC.
66. The reserve requirement for large banks on customer deposits in checking accounts is around:
A. 2 percent.
B. 5 percent.
C. 10 percent.
D. 15 percent.
Changes in the discount rate alter the level of excess reserves in the banking system and in this way
affect the money supply.
An increase in the reserve requirement reduces the excess reserves of the banking system. This reduces
the availability of credit and hence the money supply.
An increase in the reserve requirement forces banks to hold more of their deposits in the form of
reserves, and this reduces the supply of credit.
Any decrease in the reserve requirement generates excess reserves and results in greater bank lending
and an expansion of the money supply. Because a reduction in the reserve requirement increases bank
lending, it also reduces the reserve ratio, which increases the money multiplier ((1 + c)/(r + c)).
71. When the Fed decreases the reserve requirement, the money supply:
A cut in the reserve requirement increases the money multiplier because it allows banks to lend out
more of each additional dollar of deposits. This increases the supply of credit.
72. If the Fed increases the required reserves, financial institutions will likely lend out:
As required reserves increase, the bank system is forced to hold more reserves, which reduces both
lending and the money supply.
A. decreases the amount of excess reserves and this eventually increases the money supply.
B. decreases the amount of excess reserves and this eventually decreases the money supply.
C. increases the amount of excess reserves and this eventually increases the money supply.
D. increases the amount of excess reserves and this eventually decreases the money supply.
With a lower reserve requirement, banks will have to hold fewer reserves so more loans will be
extended and the money supply will increase.
74. Suppose the reserve requirement is 20% and there are no cash holdings or excess reserves. A $1 billion
purchase of government securities by the Fed will:
A. increase the potential amount of checkable deposits in the banking system by $5 billion.
B. increase the potential amount of checkable deposits in the banking system by $1 billion.
C. reduce the potential amount of checkable deposits in the banking system by $1 billion.
D. reduce the potential amount of checkable deposits in the banking system by $5 billion.
The money multiplier equals (1 + c)/(r + c), which equals 5 in this case. Since a $1 billion purchase
of government securities injects $1 billion of reserves into the banking system, demand deposits can
increase by a maximum of $5 billion.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #74
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Open Market Operations
75. Suppose the reserve requirement is 20 percent and there are no cash holdings or excess reserves. A $1
billion sale of government securities by the Fed will:
The approximate money multiplier equals (1 + c)/(r + c), which equals 5 in this case. Since a $1 billion
sale of government securities removes $1 billion of reserves from the banking system, demand deposits
will decrease by $5 billion.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #75
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Open Market Operations
76. If the reserve requirement is 0.1 and the ratio of money people hold as cash relative to deposits is 0.2,
the money multiplier will be:
A. 2.
B. 3.
C. 4.
D. 5.
The money multiplier is equal to (1 + c)/(r + c), which equals 4 in this case.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #76
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Money Multiplier
77. If the cash-to-deposit ratio is 0.1 and the money multiplier is 2.5, the reserve requirement is:
A. 0.14.
B. 0.24.
C. 0.34.
D. 0.44.
The approximate money multiplier is (1 + c)/(r + c) = 1.10/(r + 0.10) = 2.5. Solving for r = 0.34.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #77
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Money Multiplier
78. Assuming that r = .05 and c = .25, the money multiplier is:
A. 4.07.
B. 4.17.
C. 4.27.
D. 4.37.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #78
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Money Multiplier
79. Assuming that r = .05 and c = .25, if reserves fall by 100, the money supply will decline by:
A. 400.
B. 407.
C. 417.
D. 427.
Since the money multiplier (1 + c)/(r + c) is 4.17, a fall in reserves by 100 will decrease money supply
by 4.17 x 100 = 417.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #79
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Money Multiplier
80. Assuming that r = .05 and c = .2, how much would reserves need to be increased to increase the money
supply by 500?
A. 25.17.
B. 100.17.
C. 104.17.
D. 204.17.
Since the approximate money multiplier (1 + c)/(r + c) is 4.8, to increase money supply by 500, reserves
need to be increased by 104.17.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #80
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Money Multiplier
81. Which of the following is an example of a direct expansionary monetary policy action?
If the reserve requirement is reduced, there would be more excess reserves for the banks to loan out, and
through the multiplier effect the money supply would increase. The prime rate is not a monetary policy
variable but rather an interest rate controlled by commercial banks.
The discount rate is the interest rate banks pay when they borrow from the Fed.
A cut in the discount rate reduces the cost that banks pay when they borrow from the Fed and is usually
a signal that the Fed wants banks to engage in additional lending.
84. When the Fed reduces the discount rate, this sends a signal to banks that the Fed wants:
A reduction in the discount rate is a signal that the Fed wants easier credit conditions.
The discount rate is the interest rate the Fed charges commercial banks when it lends to them. The lower
this rate, the more likely banks are to borrow and the less likely they are to hold excess reserves to meet
reserve shortfalls. This tends to increase the money supply.
86. Suppose the approximate money multiplier in the U.S. is 3. Suppose further that if the Fed changes the
discount rate by 1 percentage point, banks change their reserves by 400. To reduce the money supply by
4200 the Fed should:
Because the money multiplier is 3, a 1 percentage point increase in the discount rate reduces the money
supply by 1,200 (400 * 3). Thus, for the money supply to decrease by 4,200 the discount rate must be
raised by 3.5 percentage points (4,200/1,200).
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #86
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Discount Rate
87. Suppose the money multiplier in the U.S. is 3. Suppose further that if the Fed changes the discount rate
by 1 percentage point, banks change their reserves by 300. To increase the money supply by 2700 the
Fed should:
Because the money multiplier is 3, a 1 percentage point cut in the discount rate raises the money supply
by 900 (300 * 3). Thus, for the money supply to increase by 2,700 the discount rate must be reduced by
3 percentage points (2,700/900).
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #87
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Discount Rate
Open market operations are conducted on a day-to-day basis by the Fed in order to meet its objectives
for monetary policy. The Federal funds rate is an operating target for monetary policy.
The Fed conducts open market operations when it buys or sells government securities.
Buying government securities adds reserves from the banking system and increases the availability of
credit, causing an increase in the money supply.
91. Suppose the money multiplier in the U.S. is 2.5. If the Fed wants to reduce the money supply by 1000 it
should:
To reduce money supply the Fed must sell securities. Since the multiplier is 2.5 the government has to
sell securities worth 400.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #91
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Open Market Operations
92. Suppose the money multiplier in the U.S. is 2.5. If the Fed wants to reduce the money supply by 1,500 it
should:
To reduce money supply the Fed must sell securities. Since the multiplier is 2.5 the government has to
sell securities worth 600. There is not enough information to find the reserve ratio or the discount rate
policy.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #92
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Open Market Operations
93. Suppose the money multiplier in the U.S. is 4. If the Fed wants to expand the money supply by 600 it
should:
To expand money supply the Fed must buy securities. Since the multiplier is 4 the government has to
buy securities worth 150.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #93
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-3
Topic: Open Market Operations
An increase in the discount rate raises the cost that banks pay when they borrow from the Fed and is
usually a signal that the Fed wants banks to engage in less lending.
Open market sales of government securities reduce the reserves of the banking system. As reserves fall,
banks must replenish them by either issuing fewer loans or calling in old loans, both of which reduce
the money supply.
An open market purchase of government securities increases banks reserves. Banks tend to lend out
these new funds, thereby expanding money supply, reducing interest rate, and shifting to the right
aggregate demand. This will increase output.
97. If the Fed simultaneously raises the discount rate and the reserve requirement, the money supply will:
A. contract.
B. remain unchanged.
C. expand.
D. take on a value that cannot be determined from the information given.
Both policies decrease bank reserves and thereby contract the money supply.
98. If the Fed simultaneously lowers the reserve requirement and sells government bonds, the money supply
will:
A. contract.
B. remain unchanged.
C. expand.
D. move in a way that cannot be determined from the information given.
The decrease in the reserve requirement increases excess reserves, which should increase the money
supply. The sale of government bonds, however, lowers bank reserves and thereby contracts the money
supply. Without more information, the change in the money supply cannot be predicted.
A. contract.
B. remain unchanged.
C. expand.
D. take on a value that cannot be determined from the information given.
Both policies increase bank reserves and thereby expand the money supply.
The Fed funds market is where banks needing reserves can borrow from banks with excess reserves.
The Federal Funds rate has become the Fed's operating target, and in response to the 2008 financial
crisis, the Fed lowered the rate to almost zero to jumpstart the economy.
An open market sale of government securities reduces the excess reserves in the banking system, which
should decrease the supply of funds in the Federal funds market and increase the Federal funds rate.
103. If the level of excess reserves in the banking system drops suddenly, we might expect that the:
The level of excess reserves determines the flow of funds into the Federal funds market. When excess
reserves are low, so is the supply of Federal funds, so the Federal funds rate should be high.
104. When the Fed targets a higher interest rate, this change in policy involves open market:
The Federal funds rate increases when excess reserves within the commercial banking system contract.
Such a contraction can be brought on by Fed open market sales of government securities because these
sales reduce commercial bank reserves.
106. What tool of monetary policy will the Fed use to increase the Federal funds rate from 1% to 1.25%?
A. Open-market operations.
B. The discount rate.
C. A change in reserve requirements.
D. Margin requirements.
The Federal funds target is used to guide the trading desk in whether to add or subtract reserves from
the banking system.
107. The interest rate banks charge each other to borrow excess reserves is called the:
A. discount rate.
B. required reserve ratio.
C. prime rate.
D. Federal funds rate.
The Federal funds rate is the interest rate charged by banks on loans they make to other banks.
A. discount rate.
B. reserve requirement.
C. Federal funds rate.
D. monetary base.
The Fed uses the Federal funds rate because it is an indication of the level of excess reserves in the
banking system.
A higher reserve requirement will reduce the reserves of the banking system and reduce the availability
of credit in the Federal funds market. This will increase the Federal funds rate.
An increase in the reserves of the banking system increases the availability of credit in the Federal funds
market and reduces the Federal funds rate.
If reserves are higher than expected, banks are likely to have more excess reserves than they would like.
If banks can't lend out these reserves to their customers, they will try to lend them out in the Federal
funds market, which will push down the Federal funds rate.
If withdrawals are higher than expected, banks reserves will be lower than expected, increasing the
demand for Federal funds and raising the Federal funds rate.
113. If the Fed funds rate is above the Fed's target range the Fed should:
The Fed funds rate being above the Fed's target would mean that money supply is tight and the Fed
should follow an expansionary monetary policy.
The Fed funds rate being below the Fed's target would mean that money supply is loose and the Fed
should follow a contractionary monetary policy.
115. Suppose the Fed funds rate is above the Fed's target range. The Fed will:
A. buy bonds.
B. sell bonds.
C. increase the reserve requirement.
D. increase the discount rate.
The Fed funds rate being above the Fed's target would mean that monetary policy is too tight, so the Fed
should follow an expansionary monetary policy like buying bonds.
116. Suppose the Fed funds rate is below the Fed's target range. The Fed could:
A. buy bonds.
B. reduce the reserve requirement.
C. increase the reserve requirement.
D. cut the discount rate.
The Fed funds rate being below the Fed's target would mean that monetary policy is too loose, so the
Fed should follow a contractionary monetary policy like raising the reserve requirement.
A sale of government securities reduces the reserves in the banking system and forces up the Federal
funds rate.
A purchase of government securities injects reserves into the banking system, which reduces the Federal
funds rate.
119. When the Fed took action in late 2008 to significantly decrease the Federal funds rate, these operations
are best considered as:
A. offensive actions.
B. defensive actions.
C. both offensive and defensive actions.
D. neither offensive nor defensive actions.
The goal of offensive actions is to make monetary policy either more expansionary or more
contractionary (the latter in this case). Defensive actions maintain the current monetary policy stance
and thus would not be associated with changes in the Federal funds rate.
A. bought U.S. government securities, thereby creating and supplying additional Federal funds.
B. sold U.S. government securities, thereby contracting funds to the Federal funds market.
C. speeded up the clearing of checks to make more funds available to banks.
D. encouraged banks to loan out funds to ease their reserve requirements and thus lower the demand for
Federal funds.
When the Fed sells securities, it contracts reserves, which are what Federal funds are. As in any other
market, a lower supply tends to increase price. In this case, it increased the Federal funds rate.
121. The defensive and offensive actions of the Fed differ because offensive actions are designed to:
A. tighten monetary policy and defensive actions are designed to ease monetary policy.
B. ease monetary policy and defensive actions are designed to tighten monetary policy.
C. change the current monetary policy while defensive actions are designed to reinforce the current
monetary policy.
D. reinforce the current monetary policy while defensive actions are designed to change the current
monetary policy.
Offensive actions seek to alter the direction of monetary policy while defensive actions reinforce the
existing direction.
122. If individuals suddenly increase their withdrawals from the banking system, the Federal funds rate
should:
A sudden withdrawal from the banking system reduces the excess reserves of the system and forces up
the Federal funds rate.
A. sales that would prevent the Fed funds rate from increasing.
B. sales that would prevent the Fed funds rate from decreasing.
C. purchases that would prevent the Fed funds rate from increasing.
D. purchases that would prevent the Fed funds rate from decreasing.
The drop in bank loans will increase excess reserves, which will tend to push the Fed funds rate down.
To prevent this, the Fed would have to sell bonds to eliminate the excess reserves.
124. If the Fed funds rate rises above the Fed's target range, the Fed should take:
If the Fed has a target range for the Fed funds rate, it is using this rate as an operating target for
monetary policy. Given that it has set its monetary policy, any action to bring the Fed funds rate back
into the target range (i.e. a purchase of government bonds) would be defensive.
125. If the Fed funds rate falls below the Fed's target range, the Fed should take:
If the Fed has a target range for the Fed funds rate, it is using this rate as an intermediate target for
monetary policy. Given that it has set its monetary policy, any action to bring the Fed funds rate back
into the target range (i.e. a sale of government bonds) would be defensive.
Because the Fed is changing the existing monetary policy when it changes the target range for the
Federal funds rate, it must take an offensive action. Because it must increase the Federal funds rate to
meet the new target, it should adopt a contractionary monetary policy.
127. Suppose the Federal funds rate is 5 percent. If the Fed decides to decrease the target for the Federal
funds rate from 5 percent to 4 percent, it should take:
Because the Fed is changing the existing monetary policy when it changes the target range for the
Federal funds rate, it must take an offensive action. Because it must decrease the Federal funds rate to
meet the new target, it should adopt an expansionary monetary policy.
A. Sustainable growth.
B. The Federal funds rate.
C. Stable prices.
D. Stock prices.
The Federal funds rate is the only real operating target for the Fed.
A. sales that would prevent the Fed funds rate from increasing.
B. sales that would prevent the Fed funds rate from decreasing.
C. purchases that would prevent the Fed funds rate from increasing.
D. purchases that would prevent the Fed funds rate from decreasing.
Larger than normal withdrawals would reduce excess reserves, which would tend to push the Fed funds
rate up. To prevent this, the Fed would have to buy bonds to replenish bank reserves.
130. In 2008, the Fed followed an expansionary monetary policy, which was evident by the:
A. decrease in the Fed funds rate from 4 percent in January to .25 percent in December.
B. increase in the Fed funds rate from .25 percent in January to 4 percent in December.
C. decrease in the repo rate from 4 percent in January to .25 percent in December.
D. increase in the discount rate and decrease in the Fed fund rate by the same percentage points.
During 2008 the Fed followed an expansionary monetary policy that can be observed in the severe
reduction of the Fed funds rate.
131. The Fed funds rate increased from 2.5 percent in February 2005 to 5.26 in February 2007. This change
in the Fed funds rate clearly indicates that during this period the Fed followed a(n):
During 2005-2007, the Fed followed a contractionary monetary policy that can be observed in the
higher Fed funds rates during this period.
An open market sale of government securities reduces the excess reserves in the banking system, which
decreases the supply of funds in the Federal funds market and raises the Federal funds rate.
An open market purchase of government securities increases the excess reserves in the banking system,
which increases the supply of funds in the Federal funds market and decreases the Federal funds rate.
The Fed tools are the open market operations, discount rate, and reserve requirements.
A. Consumer confidence.
B. Sustainable growth.
C. Open market operation.
D. Fed funds rate.
The Fed intermediate targets are the consumer confidence, stock prices, interest rate spreads, and
housing starts among others.
136. The predictions of Fed behavior provided by the Taylor rule are:
A. never accurate.
B. seldom accurate.
C. reasonably accurate.
D. extremely accurate.
The Taylor rule predicts Fed behavior reasonably well but is by no means perfect.
137. If inflation is one percentage point above the Fed's target, the Taylor rule predicts that the Fed will:
The Taylor rule predicts the Fed will raise (lower) the Federal funds rate by 0.5 percentage point for
each percentage point inflation is above (below) the Fed's target.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #137
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
138. If output falls one percentage point below its potential, the Taylor rule predicts that the Fed will:
The Taylor rule predicts the Fed will raise (lower) the Federal funds rate by 0.5 percentage points for
each percentage point output is above (below) its potential.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #138
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
139. Suppose the Federal funds rate rises by 0.5 percent. If the Taylor rule is correct, this might be because
output is:
The Taylor rule predicts the Fed will raise (lower) the Federal funds rate by 0.5 percentage points for
each percentage point output is above (below) its potential.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #139
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
140. At the end of 2007, the Fed funds rate was at its target, 2 percent, output was about 1 percent beneath
potential, and inflation was roughly 1.5 percent. If the Taylor rule is accurate, the Fed's desired rate of
inflation at this time was:
A. 1 percent.
B. 2.5 percent.
C. 3.5 percent.
D. 5 percent.
According to the Taylor rule, the Federal funds rate equals 2 plus the current inflation rate plus half
the difference between actual and desired inflation plus half the percentage difference between actual
output and potential output. Solving for the desired inflation rate, we find that desired inflation equals
twice the difference between the current inflation rate and the Federal funds rate, plus the percentage
difference between actual output and potential output plus the current inflation rate plus 4, which equals
3.5 percent in this case. Equivalently, Fed funds rate = 2 = 2 + 1.5 + 0.5(1.5 - target inflation rate) +
0.5(-1). Solving for target inflation = (1.5 + 0.75 - 0.5)/0.5 = 3.5 percent.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #140
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
141. Using the Taylor rule, if inflation is 3 percent, desired inflation is 2 percent, and output is 2 percentage
points above potential, the Fed will target a Fed funds rate of:
A. 6.5.
B. 4.5.
C. 3.5.
D. 3.
The Taylor rule says that the Fed will target a Fed funds rate equal to 2 + actual inflation + 0.5 x (actual
inflation less desired inflation) + 0.5 x (percent deviation of aggregate output from potential). In this
case, 2 + 3 + 0.5 x (3 - 2) + 0.5 x 2 equals 6.5.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #141
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
142. Using the Taylor rule, if inflation is 1 percent, desired inflation is 2 percent, and output is 2 percentage
points above potential, the Fed will target a Fed funds rate of:
A. 6.5.
B. 4.5.
C. 3.5.
D. 3.
The Taylor rule says that the Fed will target a Fed funds rate equal to 2 + actual inflation + 0.5 x (actual
inflation less desired inflation) + 0.5 x (percent deviation of aggregate output from potential). In this
case, 2 + 1 + 0.5 x (1 - 2) + 0.5 x 2 equals 3.5.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #142
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
143. Using the Taylor rule, if inflation is 3 percent, desired inflation is 2 percent, and output is 2 percentage
points below potential, the Fed will target a Fed funds rate of:
A. 6.5.
B. 4.5.
C. 3.5.
D. 3.
The Taylor rule says that the Fed will target a Fed funds rate equal to 2 + actual inflation + 0.5 x (actual
inflation less desired inflation) + 0.5 x (percent deviation of aggregate output from potential). In this
case, 2 + 3 + 0.5 x (3 - 2) + 0.5 x -2 equals 4.5.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #143
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
144. Using the Taylor rule, if inflation is 1 percent, desired inflation is 2 percent, and output is 2 percentage
points below potential, the Fed will target a Fed funds rate of:
A. 6.5.
B. 4.5.
C. 2.5.
D. 1.5.
The Taylor rule says that the Fed will target a Fed funds rate equal to 2 + actual inflation + 0.5 x (actual
inflation less desired inflation) + 0.5 x (percent deviation of aggregate output from potential). In this
case, 2 + 1 + 0.5 x (1 - 2) + 0.5 x -2 equals 1.5.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #144
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
145. During 2007, the Fed funds rate was at its target 3.5 percent, inflation was 1.5 percent, and target
inflation was 2.5 percent. If the Taylor rule is accurate, the output was:
According to the Taylor rule, the Federal funds rate equals 2 plus the current inflation rate plus half the
difference between actual and desired inflation plus half the percentage difference between actual output
and potential output. Or, 3.5 = 2 + 1.5 + 0.5(1.5 - 2.5) + 0.5(percentage deviation in output). Solving for
percentage deviation in output = (3.5 - 2 - 1.5 + 0.5)/0.5 = 1 percent.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #145
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 14-5
Topic: Taylor Rule
146. The Federal Reserve kept interest rates low between 2002 and 2006 because:
A. they wanted to reduce the value of the dollar and help domestic exporters.
B. they were worried about inflation creeping into the economy.
C. they wanted to avoid deflation and the resulting recession.
D. they wanted to follow the Taylor Rule.
The Federal Reserve does not always have to follow the Taylor Rule, and even though the Taylor Rule
indicated keeping rates high, the Fed was worried about the low price levels in the economy.
The Federal Reserve over that period of time was concerned about the risks of recession to the
economy, even though the Taylor Rule suggested interest rates being increased.
The Taylor Rule has been successful in describing Fed policy, but the Fed is under no obligation to
follow the Taylor Rule when implementing policy.
149. Some experts have argued that the Fed contributed to the housing bubble by:
A. allowing banks to invest in high-risk assets, even though there was a risk of them defaulting.
B. lowering interest rates, despite the fact that the Taylor rule indicated keeping them high.
C. not regulating non bank financial institutions who were coming up with innovative mortgages.
D. following the Taylor Rule, which during the 2000s indicated that rates should be kept low.
The Taylor Rule from 2002 onwards indicated raising interest rates. The Fed lowered rates which
encouraged people to leverage and also to make gains off housing investments. It was only in 2006
when the Fed was worried about inflation, did we see a following of the Taylor Rule. The raising of the
rates in turn started to slow down the demand for housing.
150. Which of the following monetary policies reduces aggregate demand and output?
An open market sale of bonds increases the supply of bonds, driving down bond prices and pushing up
interest rates. Higher interest rates in turn reduce investment, aggregate demand, and output.
A cut in the reserve requirement increases bank reserves, causing banks to reduce interest rates in order
to lend out their excess reserves. Lower interest rates in turn stimulate investment, aggregate demand,
and output.
152. Which of the following monetary policies reduces aggregate demand and output?
An increase in the discount rate is a signal from the Fed that banks should tighten up their lending.
Since banks generally respond to this signal, interest rates will rise, causing investment, aggregate
demand, and output to decline.
153. In the fall of 2008, the Federal Reserve reduced its target for the Federal funds rate dramatically. The
Fed likely made this decision because it believed:
The Fed was fighting a recession in 2008 and 2009, which had occurred due to the financial crisis. This
was a drastic step but it was seen as necessary to stimulate the economy.
By increasing the Federal funds rate, the Fed sought to increase bank lending rates, which would reduce
business investment and in this way decrease aggregate demand. This reduction in aggregate demand
would in turn reduce inflationary pressure.
155. Suppose that investment is not very responsive to interest rates, so that a sizable increase in interest
rates has only a minor effect on investment. In this case, monetary policy would have:
A. no effect on output.
B. a modest effect on output at best.
C. a substantial effect on output.
D. a massive effect on output.
If investment is insensitive to interest rates, aggregate demand will also be insensitive, reducing the
effectiveness of monetary policy.
156. Suppose that investment is very responsive to interest rates, so that even a small change in interest
rates has a substantial effect on investment. In this case, expansionary monetary policy that results in a
modest drop in interest rates will:
If investment is very sensitive to interest rates, aggregate demand will also be very sensitive, so that
even a small drop in interest rates will increase investment, aggregate demand, and output sharply.
A policy that increases the money supply will reduce interest rates and stimulate investment, output, and
employment.
158. Other things equal, a rise in interest rates can be expected to:
Higher interest rates increase the cost of borrowing, making it more expensive for businesses to borrow
to finance new investment projects.
159. Monetary policy that seeks to minimize the business cycle in the AS/AD model involves:
Expansionary monetary policy depresses interest rates by increasing the money supply. Lower interest
rates raise investment and output by making it cheaper for businesses to borrow and invest.
Contractionary monetary policy raises interest rates by reducing the money supply. Higher interest rates
depress investment and output by making it more expensive for businesses to borrow and invest.
162. During a recession, policy makers who use the AS/AD model would probably recommend an open
market:
An open market purchase of government securities increases the demand for bonds, driving up bond
prices and depressing interest rates. Lower interest rates in turn stimulate investment and output.
An open market sale of government securities increases the supply of bonds, driving down bond prices
and increasing interest rates. Higher interest rates in turn depress investment and output.
164. In the AS/AD model, higher interest rates are produced by:
Higher interest rates in the AS/AD model are produced by a contractionary monetary policy designed to
lower investment and decrease output.
165. One year the lead sentence in a Wall Street Journal article read, "Tight job markets, rising wages, and
the economy's continued strength put more pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise short-term interest
rates." If the Fed responded to this pressure, it would adopt:
To reduce real growth, the Fed adopts a contractionary monetary policy that raises real interest rates.
Since investment demand is negatively related to interest rates, investment spending would decline,
lowering aggregate demand and real output.
In the AS/AD model, monetary policy affects the economy through changes in interest rates. These
changes alter investment, saving, and equilibrium income.
When saving is less than investment, investment is excessive and so is aggregate demand. A
contractionary monetary policy that raises interest rates and reduces investment and aggregate demand
eliminates the excess investment.
168. According to the AS/AD model, a reduction in the money supply is appropriate:
When saving is less than investment, investment is excessive and so is aggregate demand. A
contractionary monetary policy that raises interest rates and reduces investment and aggregate demand
eliminates the excess investment.
When saving is less than investment, investment is excessive and so is aggregate demand. A
contractionary monetary policy, like an open market sale of government bonds, raises interest rates and
eliminates the excessive investment and aggregate demand.
170. If saving exceeds investment, the appropriate countercyclical monetary policy would be:
171. If the actual Federal funds rate is 7 percent and the Fed's target Federal funds rate is 8 percent, the Fed is
most likely to adopt which of the following policies?
Since the interest rate is too low relative to the Fed's target, the Fed should push interest rates up using a
contractionary monetary policy such as a sale of government bonds.
Since the interest rate is too high relative to the Fed's target, the Fed should push interest rates down
using an expansionary monetary policy such as a reduction in the reserve requirement.
A. downward sloping because as interest rates rise, the Fed will not supply as much money at lower
interest rates.
B. upward sloping because as interest rates rise, the Fed is willing to increase the quantity of money
supplied.
C. vertical because the Fed adjusts the supply of money to changes in the demand for money at a
targeted interest rate.
D. horizontal because the Fed adjusts the supply of money to changes in the demand for money at a
targeted interest rate.
The effective supply curve of money is horizontal because the Fed targets an interest rate and adjusts
supply to meet demand at that interest rate.
The effective supply curve of money is horizontal because the Fed targets an interest rate and adjusts
supply to meet demand at that interest rate. So, when the demand for money increases, it must also
increase the supply of money.
175. If the Fed is targeting an interest rate, creating an effective supply curve of money and the demand for
money decreases the Fed will:
The effective supply curve of money is horizontal because the Fed targets an interest rate and adjusts
supply to meet demand at that interest rate. So, when the demand for money decreases, the Fed must
also decrease the supply of money. It will likely sell bonds to do so.
When the Fed targets the interest rate, it is just choosing another approach to manage the money supply.
The Fed will adjust the money supply through OMO according to the targeted interest rate.
The curve that shows the relationship between the interest rates and the bonds' time to maturity is the
yield curve.
Colander - Chapter 14
178. Refer to the graph above. Which of the curves represents an inverted yield curve?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
180. The standard discussion of monetary policy is based on the assumption that:
A. long-term rates will fall when the Fed pushes up short-term interest rates.
B. long-term rates will rise when the Fed pushes up short-term interest rates.
C. short-term rates will fall when the Fed pushes up long-term interest rates.
D. short-term rates will rise when the Fed pushes up long-term interest rates.
The standard discussion assumes long-term rates move with short-term rates. The Fed can control the
short-term interest rate.
181. The standard discussion of monetary policy is based on the assumption that:
A. the entire yield curve shifts up when the Fed sells government bonds.
B. the entire yield curve shifts down when the Fed sells government bonds.
C. the yield curve becomes inverted when the Fed buys government bonds.
D. the yield curve becomes steeper when the Fed buys government bonds.
The standard discussion assumes long-term rates move with short term rates. So, the entire yield curve
shifts up when the Fed increases short-term rates by selling government bonds.
A. are riskier.
B. pay lower interest rates.
C. pay higher interest rates.
D. are a safe investment.
During an inverted yield curve, the long term bonds pay lower interest rates.
183. Tools that the Fed uses to increase the money supply that are beyond the traditional tools are called:
A. contractionary tools.
B. fiscal tools.
C. quantitative easing tools.
D. qualitative easing tools.
184. Which of the following would not be considered an example of quantitative easing?
A. The Fed buys bonds from banks at a zero Fed funds rate.
B. The Fed buys mortgage backed securities.
C. The Fed buys money market funds.
D. The Fed sells bonds to banks.
Quantitative easing is used to stimulate the economy when conventional tools are not effective. Selling
bonds would be used to slow down the economy.
The real interest rate equals the nominal interest rate adjusted for expected inflation.
186. Suppose you are a lender and you expect inflation to be 4 percent over the next year because inflation
was 4 percent in the last year. If you want to earn a real return of 2 percent on any loans you make, you
will set the interest rate on your loans equal to:
A. 2 percent.
B. 4 percent.
C. 6 percent.
D. 10 percent.
The nominal interest rate is the sum of the real interest rate and expected inflation.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #186
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 14-6
Topic: Nominal Interest Rates
187. Suppose you are a borrower and you expect inflation to be 6 percent over the next year because inflation
was 6 percent in the last year. If you do not want to pay more than 2 percent in real terms for any loan
you take out, you will not borrow if the interest rate is greater than:
A. 2 percent.
B. 6 percent.
C. 8 percent.
D. 14 percent.
The nominal interest rate is the sum of the real interest rate and expected inflation.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #187
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 14-6
Topic: Nominal Interest Rates
188. The observation that nominal interest rates have increased implies that:
189. Suppose the nominal interest rate in Brazil is 40 percent and the expected inflation rate is 150 percent.
The real interest rate is:
A. -110 percent.
B. -190 percent.
C. 110 percent.
D. 190 percent.
Real interest rate = Nominal interest rate - expected inflation rate = 40 percent -150 percent = -110
percent.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #189
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 14-6
Topic: Real Interest Rates
190. Suppose the real interest rate in Brazil is 40 percent, actual inflation is 20 percent, and expected
inflation is 20 percent. The nominal interest must then be:
A. 20 percent.
B. 40 percent.
C. 60 percent.
D. 80 percent.
Nominal interest rate = Real interest rate + Expected inflation = 40 percent + 20 percent = 60 percent.
AACSB: Analytic
BLOOMS TAXONOMY: Evaluation
Colander - Chapter 14 #190
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 14-6
Topic: Nominal Interest Rates
191. When people expect higher inflation, usually nominal interest rates will:
A. fall.
B. rise.
C. remain unchanged.
D. move erratically.
If lenders expect higher inflation, they will raise nominal interest rates so as to preserve purchasing
power.
192. Suppose a contractionary monetary policy raises nominal interest rates. If this is the case, it follows that
the contractionary monetary policy must have:
A contractionary monetary policy normally raises real interest rates and reduces expected inflation.
If nominal interest rates rise, it follows that real interest rates must have gone up more than expected
inflation went down.
193. Suppose an expansionary monetary policy reduces nominal interest rates. If this is the case, it follows
that the expansionary monetary policy must have:
An expansionary monetary policy normally reduces real interest rates and raises expected inflation. If
nominal interest rates fall, it follows that real interest rates must have gone down more than expected
inflation went up.
Since real interest rates are unobservable because expected inflation is unobservable, the impact of
monetary policy is more difficult to assess.
195. As financial markets develop new and complex financial instruments, the Fed has:
The development of new financial instruments provides the public with numerous sources of credit.
The Fed has found that its ability to control the long-term rate has lessened due to these new financial
instruments.
196. A difference between a monetary regime and monetary policy is that a monetary regime:
A monetary policy responds to changes in the economy, while a monetary regime is a predetermined
policy to be followed independently of changes in the economy.
A monetary regime is a predetermined statement of the policy that will be followed in a given situation.
A. more effective than monetary policies because they produce smaller changes in inflationary
expectations.
B. less effective than monetary policies because they produce smaller changes in inflationary
expectations.
C. less effective than monetary policies because they give policy makers greater discretion.
D. more effective than monetary policies because they give policy makers greater discretion.
By establishing predetermined rules for monetary policy, monetary regimes reduce uncertainty about
expected inflation and in this way limit fluctuations in inflationary expectations.