Question

Assume that banks hold no excess reserves and that all currency is deposited into the banking system. If the required reserve ratio is 5.00%, and the Federal Reserve wants to increase the money supply by $55.00 million, the Fed would need to make an open market purchase of $________ million. (Insert your answer in millions, and round to two decimal places.)

Answer 1

Answer:

2.75 million

Explanation:

Required reserves is the percentage of deposits required of banks to keep as reserves by the central bank

Required reserves = reserve requirement x deposits

Increase in value of money supply as a result of the purchase is determined by the money multiplier

Money multiplier = 1 / reserve requirement

1/0.05 = 20

increase in money supply = amount of open market purchase / reserve requirement

55  / 20 = 2.75 million