Question

If the Fed increases the discount rate, which of the following accurately describes the sequence of events that will follow in the banking system, finally leading to a decline in money supply?
A. Reserves ↓: Excess reserves ↓; Loans ↓; Deposits ↓; Money supply ↓
B. Loans ↓; Deposits ↓; Reserves ↓; Excess reserves ↓; Money supply ↓
C. Deposits ; Reserves: Excess reserves; Loans ↓; Money supply ↓
D. Excess reserves ↓; Reserves ↓; Loans ↓; Deposits ↓; Money supply ↓

Answer 1

Answer: A. Reserves ↓: Excess reserves ↓; Loans ↓; Deposits ↓; Money supply ↓

Explanation:

The discount rate is the rate at which the Fed lends money to banks and other depository type institutions. Normally banks have a reserve requirement that the Fed requires of them which states how much they are to leave with the Fed as a reserve. Banks tend to fall short of this reserve sometimes and so can borrow from the Fed to balance it off.

If the Fed increase the rate at which these banks can borrow, they will not want to do so thus leaving their Reserves at the Fed lower than it should be. They will then use their excess reserves which is money kept in reserve more than the Fed requires, to balance off their reserve at the Fed.

As a result of this reduction in their Excess reserve, they will have less money to give out as loans. With less loans being made, people will not have as much money to deposit after taking the loans. Money supply will then fall as a whole.