Question

A problem that the Fed faces when it attempts to control the money supply is that a. since the U.S. has a fractional-reserve banking system, the amount of money in the economy depends in part on the behavior of depositors and bankers. b. the Fed has to get the approval of the U.S. Treasury Department whenever it uses any of its monetary policy tools. c. while the Fed has the ability to change the money supply by a large amount, it does not have the ability to change it by a small amount. d. federal legislation in the 1950s stripped the Fed of its power to act as a lender of last resort to banks.

Answer 1

Answer:

A) since the U.S. has a fractional-reserve banking system, the amount of money in the economy depends in part on the behavior of depositors and bankers.

Explanation:

Since US banks operate under a fractional reserve banking system, they have the capacity to create money through the money multiplier, e.g. you deposit $1,000 in bank A, then bank A borrows $850 to Steven and he purchases a new bike from Sarah. Then Sarah deposits the money in bank B, and bank B borrows $722 to George who buys a laptop from Henry. Henry then deposits the money in bank C, and bank C borrows $614 to Susan, and this goes on and on.

The problem that the Fed faces is that in order for the fractional reserve system to work, households must hold their money in banks. Ans that is something that the government cannot control, specially the amount or portion that is deposited. The other players are banks, that ideally should borrow all the money that they are allowed to.