Question

9. Problems and Applications Q9 Suppose that a borrower and a lender agree on the nominal interest rate to be paid on a loan. Then inflation turns out to be lower than they both expected. True or False: The real interest rate on this loan is lower than expected.

Answer 1

Answer: False

Explanation:

The real interest rate is the nominal interest rate adjusted for inflation.

If the nominal interest rate was made with inflation in mind and this inflation is less than anticipated, the real rate will be higher not lower than expected.

For instance: Assume the nominal rate is 8% and the two parties assumed inflation would be 4%. Real rate would be:

= 8 - 4 = 4%

If inflation is instead 2%, real rate would be:

= 8 - 2 = 6%

Real rate would be higher than anticipated.