Expansionary monetary policy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Expansionary monetary policy is monetary policy that seeks to increase the size of the money supply. In most nations, monetary policy is controlled by either a central bank or a finance ministry.
Neoclassical and Keynesian economics significantly differ on the effects and effectiveness of monetary policy on influencing the real economy; there is no clear consensus on how monetary policy affects real economic variables (aggregate output or income, employment). Both economic schools accept that monetary policy affects monetary variables (price levels, interest rates).
Monetary policy relies on a number of tools: monetary base, reserve requirements, discount window lending and interest rates.
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[edit] Policy Tools
[edit] Monetary Base
Expansionary policy can be implemented by increasing the size of the monetary base. This directly increases the total amount of money circulating in the economy. In the United States, the Federal Reserve can use open market operations to increase the monetary base. The Federal Reserve would buy bonds in exchange for hard currency. When the Federal Reserve disburses this hard currency payment, it adds that amount of currency from the economy, thus increasing the monetary base. Note that open market operations are a relatively small part of the total volume in the bond market, thus the Federal Reserve is not able to influence interest rates through this method.
[edit] Reserve Requirements
The monetary authority exerts regulatory control over banks. Expansionary policy can be implemented by allowing banks to hold a lower proportion of their total assets in reserve. Banks only maintain a small portion of their assets as cash available for immediate withdrawal; the rest is invested in illiquid assets like mortgages and loans. By requiring a lower proportion of total assets to be held as liquid cash the Federal Reserve increases the availability of loanable funds. This acts as an increase in the money supply.
[edit] Discount Window Lending
Many central banks or finance ministries have the authority to lend funds to financial institutions within their country. The lent funds represent an expansion in the monetary base. By extending new loans the monetary authority can directly increase the size of the money supply. By advertising that the discount window will increase future lending, the monetary authority can also indirectly increase the money supply by raising risk-taking by financial institutions.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, the Federal Reserve announced that it would extend discount window loans to any and all financial institutions who requested funds. This had the effect of preventing any panics due to fear of insufficient liquidity.
[edit] Interest Rates
Monetary authorities in different nations have differing levels of control of economy-wide interest rates. In the United States, the Federal Reserve can only indirectly set the Federal Funds Rate. This rate has some effect on other market interest rates, but there is no direct, definite relationship. In other nations, the monetary authority may be able to mandate specific interest rates on loans, savings accounts or other financial assets. By lowering the interest rate(s) under its control, a monetary authority can expand the money supply because lower interest rates discourage savings and encourage borrowing. Both results increase the size of the money supply.
[edit] Monetary Policy and the Real Economy
As noted above, the relationship between monetary policy and the real economy is uncertain. It is important to note that expansionary monetary policy should not be confused with economic expansion. The latter being an increase in economic output in the real economy.
