Question

Suppose the reserve requirement is 10%.

Answer 1

Answer:

1)

B. more reserves, thus increasing the money multiplier and increasing the money supply.

In a fractional-reserve banking system, banks create money when they make loans. The more money they have available to make loans, the more money they create.

If the Fed reduces the reserve-requirements, banks will have more reserves available to loan out, increasing the money multiplier, and thus, the money supply.

2)

A. rarely changes the reserve requirement and does not use the reserve requirement as a major monetary policy tool.

The Fed rarely uses this monetary policy tool because it is the most powerful one. Changing the reserve requirements effectively reduce or increase the money supply like no other monetary policy tool, therefore, the effects can be dramatic, and its use is a sign that all other tools have been exhausted (open-market operations, and discount window mainly).

Explanation: