Chapter 15: Problem 24

Which kind of monetary policy would you expect in response to high inflation: expansionary or contractionary? Why?

Short Answer

Expert verified

In response to high inflation, a contractionary monetary policy would be expected. This is because it aims to decrease the money supply and increase interest rates, which helps to slow down inflation and stabilize the economy. Higher interest rates discourage excessive borrowing, spending, and investment, reducing the demand for goods and services and ultimately bringing down inflation.

Step by step solution

Introduction on Monetary Policy

Monetary policy is the process by which a country's central bank or monetary authority manages the money supply, interest rates, and other financial tools to achieve macroeconomic goals such as stable prices, sustainable economic growth, and low unemployment rates.

Expansionary Monetary Policy

Expansionary monetary policy is used to increase the money supply and lower interest rates, which aims to stimulate economic growth and boost employment rates. This type of policy is typically implemented during economic downturns or recessions to encourage spending and investment by businesses and consumers.

Contractionary Monetary Policy

Contractionary monetary policy, on the other hand, is used to decrease the money supply and increase interest rates, which aims to slow down inflation and stabilize the economy. This type of policy is necessary when inflation is high, as high inflation can lead to instability in the economy, reduce purchasing power, and distort economic decisions by businesses and consumers.

High Inflation Scenario

In a situation with high inflation, prices continuously rise, and the value of money decreases, which harms the economy in various ways. In such cases, the central bank or monetary authority needs to take appropriate actions to control inflation and bring it back to a desirable level.

Recommended Monetary Policy

In response to high inflation, the central bank or monetary authority would implement a contractionary monetary policy. This policy would help to slow down the inflation rate and stabilize the economy by reducing the money supply and increasing interest rates. The higher interest rates would discourage excessive borrowing, spending, and investment, thereby reducing the demand for goods and services, which would ultimately bring down inflation.

Conclusion

In summary, the recommended monetary policy in response to high inflation would be contractionary, as it helps to reduce the inflation rate and stabilize the economy by decreasing the money supply and increasing interest rates. This policy would lead to a balance between economic growth and price stability, ensuring a sustainable and healthy economy.

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