--%>

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 : Issues of macroeconomic policy Hello

    Hello guys I want your advice. Please suggest your answer for following economics problems. Macroeconomic policy matters focus upon: (w) price determination within specific markets. (x) conduct and structure of mar

  • Q : Supply of foreign currencies into

    What are the main sources of supply of foreign currencies into domestic economy? Answer: A) Foreigners purchasing home country’s goods and services via exports. B) Foreign investment in home country via

  • Q : Define Macro Economics Macro Economics

    Macro Economics: Macro economics studies the economy as an entire.

  • Q : Maximizing consumer utility The

    The consumer maximizes the utility whenever spending patterns causes: (i) Total outlays to increase each time prices are altered. (ii) Marginal utilities of each and every good consumed to be equivalent. (iii) Marginal utilities from the last cent spent on each and ev

  • Q : Signals that guide economic decisions

    In market economies, what are the signals which guide economic decisions?

  • Q : Another name of macroeconomics What is

    What is another name of macroeconomics? Answer: Income theory

  • Q : Market price decrement according to

    When heroin were legalized, in that case the: (w) market price of heroin would drop considerably. (x) demand would raise although supply would decrease. (y) demand would decrease but supply would increase. (z) price of cocaine would raise.

    Q : Calculating Trade balance Suppose the

    Suppose the value of exports of goods of a country is Rs. 1,000 crores and the value of imports of goods is Rs. 1,200 crores, what will be the trade balance (or balance of trade)?

  • Q : Change in real income when price fall I

    I have a problem in economics on Change in real income when price fall. Please help me in the following question. When gas prices drop from $2.65 to $2.45, the biggest change in real income is realized by: (1) Harry Hustler who drives his 1995 Lincoln 200,000 miles/ye

  • Q : Net revenue when price increases Net

    Net revenue for Macho Man fake mustaches increases after the price raised from $5 to $7, pointing that demand faced by Macho Man was: (i) Relatively elastic. (ii) Relatively inelastic. (iii) Unitarily elastic. (iv) Perfectly inelastic. (v) Perfectly e