Federal Reserve Essay

1558 Words4 Pages

Since the failed attempt to control inflation by targeting the growth of monetary aggregates in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) has explored the use of various policy guides, including price indices, gold prices, and indicators of future price levels (Wray 2004). Each was used, with varying success, to assist the Fed in carrying out its dual mandate: the promotion of price stability and maximum employment (Bell-Kelton 2006). National income accounting is a measure of the economy's overall performance. It does for the economy as a whole what private accounting does for the individual firm or for the individual household (McConnell, Brue 2004). The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), compiles the National Income and Product Accounts NIPA), for the U.S. economy (McConnell, Brue 2004). Through this measure economists and policymakers are able to track production levels at regular intervals, create …show more content…

Bureau of Engraving creates the Federal Reserve Notes and the U.S. Mint creates the coins (McConnell, Brue 2004). Banks and thrifts are capable of creating money through its lending practices. When a bank makes a loan it creates money (McConnell, Brue 2004). The checkable-deposit takes the place of real money tendered. The money deposited to the new bank increases its total amount in the vault, unless the cash is spent toward production in the economy. The process of loaning money to firms or individuals at a nominal interest rate allows the bank to receive a premium for the money withdrawn from its institution. Checkable-deposits make up more than half of the nation's MI money supply (McConnell, Brue 2004). Much of the money we use in our economy is created through the extension of credit by commercial banks (McConnell, Brue 2004). The same effect is created when the bank or thrift buys government bonds from the government. A bank creates money when a loan is generated and it losses money when the loan is

Open Document