
The Federal Reserve System • 1913 signed into law • W. Wilson • Goal: more responsive money supply
The Fed 4 Main Parts • Board of Governors • Federal Open Market Committee • 12 Federal Reserve banks • Member banks MONETARY POLICY
Board of Governors • Makes policy for nations banking system • Consists of 7 members appt’d by President and confirmed by Senate • 14 year terms (1 is up every 2yrs) • Chairman & Vice named by Pres. • Decisions not subject to approval by govt to keep politics out
Federal Open Market Committee • 7 members from Board of Governors +5 presidents of Fed Reserve Banks • Sets policy on purchase of securities which is part of Monetary Policy* * discussed later
Federal Reserve Banks • 12 banks each a separate district in US • Each is a corporation • Stocks only sold to member banks in district not public • 9 member Board of Directors– bankers, industry members
Member Banks • All national banks are members of Federal Reserve and chartered by nat’l govt • State banks can decide to join or not • Must comply with federal laws and permit supervision • 1980 deregulation law– makes little difference= all must follow Fed’s reserve requirements
6 Major Functions of Fed • Holding required reserves • Regulating supply of money • Clearing checks • Supplying economy with paper currency • Acting as fiscal agent for govt • Supervising member banks
Reserve Requirements • A tool to regulate money supply • Amt of money banks must hold and not loan out • Raising Reserve Requirement: --reduces the size of loans banks can make which reduces the money supply and can help stop inflation • Lowering Reserve Requirement --increases the size of loans banks can make which adds to the money supply and can combat recession
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Regulating the supply of money • To combat the ups and downs of the business cycle • Can adjust the amount of money in the economy (see previous slide) MONETARY POLICY
Clearing Checks The Fed deducts appropriate amount from buyers bank and deposits it in sellers bank -no real money changes hands—entries in bank records are made
Paper Currency • Federal Reserve notes are our paper bills • Issued by the 12 Fed Banks • Bank is indicated on seal on left side of front of bill • Created by US Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing in WA, DC but put in circulation by one of 12
Fiscal Agent of govt • Works with US Treasury • Holds checking acct for govt • Ex– pensions, vets benefits, govt purchases
Supervising Member Banks • Ensures members comply with laws • Ensures members use sound banking practices • Ensures adequate capital, oversees mergers, and est. of branches, sets loan/investment limits • Shares this resp. with govt agency
*Back to Open Market Operations (Monetary Policy) Another way the Fed can add or subtract money in the economy • The Fed itself can either buy or sell government bonds (securities) • Ex. #1—the Fed BUYS a bond from ‘you’—you deposit the money=more $ in economy • EX. #2—the Fed SELLS a bond to ‘you’—you withdraw $ from bank=less $ in economy
bond $ FED Bank $$ $$$ $$ FED Bank bond
Manipulating Interest Rates(Monetary Policy, too) • Banks sometimes need more cash than they have in reserve thus they can borrow $ just like ‘you’ • The Fed loans $ to banks • Banks must pay an interest rate on the borrowed money (just like ‘you’) • Called the Discount Rate • By raising or lowering the % the Fed can influence the amt $ in economy
Discount Rate • Raising the rate signals ‘tight money’—attempt to reduce amt of money in economy • Lowering the rate signals ‘easy-money’—attempt to add amt of money to economy 3% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10%
FED 3% $ Bank 5% Too expensive FED 5% Bank 7%
Summary Adding Money in the economy fights recession Subtracting money from economy fights inflation Purpose: to prevent business cycle from being too ‘bumpy’ (boat on waves analogy)