Macroeconomic Policy Essay

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Macroeconomics refers to the study of the overall performance of a nation. The federal government using various polices tries to influence the general performance of the economy through various policies such as the fiscal, monetary policy as well as exchange rate. For the purpose of this study, we shall narrow our minds to one of the policies; monetary policy. Monetary policy plays an important role in the determination of the output, growth rate and price inflation. Monetary policy is the process by which the monetary authorities controls the stock of money, often directed at interest or inflation rate to guarantee price stability and general confidence in the country .Put in another way, monetary policy includes a number of policies by which …show more content…

If these monetary policies are left unchecked and allowed to be allocated freely, money and credit flows, proportion, cost and direction are unlikely to achieve some specific macroeconomic policy objectives that are liable to changes from time to time depending on the economic fortunes of a particular country. This was effectively converse by (Friedman, 1968.), whose position is that inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon while recognizing that increase in money supply in the short run can reduce unemployment and at the same time, can create inflation and so the monetary authorities should increase money supply with caution. Monetary variables are those variables that can be measured based on current prices such as nominal production, nominal investment, nominal consumption, nominal money supply, government expenses and oil revenues. (Mohammed & hassannezhad, …show more content…

However, with oil discovery and boom of the 1970s, the agricultural sector suffered neglect with the sector’s contribution to GDP declining to 35% in 2014 from 65.7% in 1957 leading to food insecurity and increased level of poverty in the country with the poverty level standing at 33.1% in 2013 (NBS 2014). However, the share of agriculture contribution to GDP declined from 42.20% in 2007 to 40% in 2010 and to a more worsening rate of 35% in 2013 (CBN 2013) and about 24.68% in 2016(NBS 2016).This is not necessarily due to a strong industrial sector dislodging agriculture but also as a result of low productivity and neglect of the agricultural sector by both the government and its citizens. There is the need to correct the existing structural bends in the Nigerian agricultural sector and placing the economy on the path of sustainable growth is therefore enthralling. However, there have been several attempts by the government of Nigeria using several macroeconomic policies and programs to promote economic growth and development of the agricultural sector. Such programs include SAP (1986-1991), seven point agenda by the ex- President Goodluck Jonathan (2007), etc. This raises the question of what monetary policies monetary authorities should adopt in order to achieve sustainable growth rate of the agricultural

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