--%>

The Fed can control the Fed funds rate

Question:

Hubbard argues that the Fed can control the Fed funds rate, but the interest rate that is important for the economy is a longer-term real rate of interest.   How much control does the Fed have over this longer real rate

Answer:

It is true that the Fed can control the short term interest rates through its monetary policy. However, the long term interest rates are a resultant of mainly variables which make the control of Fed over it difficult. Long term interest rates are formed by expectation which builds up over the period of time. Also, an external shock can cause investors to shift their money from short term to long term bonds or vice-versa which will affect both type of interest rate. Fed, in that case, can control the short run interest rate by monetary policy changes, but the long term rates will depend upon how the investors perceive that monetary change. Based upon their perception and expectations about the future, they decide their investment decisions which decide the long term interest rates.

 

   Related Questions in Macroeconomics

  • Q : Physical quality of life index DISCUSS

    DISCUSS the experience of high GNP countries and low GNP with regard to PQLI.

  • Q : Supply use two market diagrams to

    use two market diagrams to explain how an increase in state subsidies to public colleges might affect tuition and enrollments in both public and private colleges?

  • Q : Poorer good for American families The

    The most probable of the following to be a poorer good for most American families who purchase some of each of such products throughout a given year would be: (i) Plastic surgery. (ii) College textbooks. (iii) Films on DVD. (iv) Cup-a-Noodles soup. (v) Downloads for t

  • Q : FDI WHAT ARE THE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS

    WHAT ARE THE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF THE THEORY OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

  • Q : Drawback in illustration of

    Illustrations of macroeconomic aggregates would NOT consist of the: (1) tax responsibilities of a family. (2) unemployment rate. (3) level of national income. (4) supply of money. (5) rate of inflation. Can someone

  • Q : The market system 1. Examples of

    1. Examples of command economies are: A. The United States and Japan. B. Sweden and Norway. C. Mexico and Brazil. D. Cuba and North Korea.

  • Q : The failure of the Supercommittee

    Question: Some commentators have argued that the failure of the "Supercommittee" is good thing for the economy?  Do you argree? Answer:

    Q : Meaning of Cash Reserve Ratio or CRR

    Meaning of Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): It is the percentage of net or total deposits of commercial bank that are maintained by RBI.

  • Q : Paradox of Value-High values of

    The fact that most of the necessities for life like water are priced much lower than the frivolities like diamonds is addressed by the: (1) Utilitarian enigma. (2) Law of diminishing marginal utility. (3) Rational ignorance of hypothesis. (4) Paradox of the value. (5)

  • Q : Meaning of SWOT Analysis SWOT Analysis

    SWOT Analysis: SWOT analysis is a powerful tool to know the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for any company. The company itself does SWOT analysis so as to know where they are standing vis-a-vis their competitors and what are the area