Monetary Policy
Monetary policy refers to the actions taken by a central bank or monetary authority to control the money supply, interest rates, and inflation in an economy. The primary goal of monetary policy is to maintain economic stability by influencing inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Central banks can implement expansionary monetary policy (lowering interest rates, increasing the money supply) or contractionary monetary policy (raising interest rates, reducing the money supply) depending on the economic environment.
Example
The Federal Reserve lowers interest rates as part of an expansionary monetary policy to stimulate borrowing, spending, and economic growth during a recession.
Key points
• Refers to central bank actions to control the money supply, interest rates, and inflation in an economy.
• Aims to maintain economic stability and influence inflation, unemployment, and growth.
• Can be expansionary (lowering rates, increasing money supply) or contractionary (raising rates, reducing money supply).