In: Economics
Explain why the loanable funds market will return to an equilibrium interest rate when the actual interest rate is below the equilibrium interest rate.
The loanable funds market will return to equilibrium due to the forces of demand and supply. The lower interest rates will itself force borrowers to demand more at lower rate, where at the same time savers of capital are less inclined to supply funds at lower rate. This will cause a situation of shortage of funds where demand for funds exceeds the supply. The result will be increase in interest rate until savers are ready to save more and borrowers are demanding less. The equilibrium interest rates starts to rise and will reach a point where demand for funds is equal to supply of funds. The graph below show that at 2% interest rate, demand exceeds the supply by 7 Billion $. But as borrowers ready to demand more, putting upward pressure on interest rates and reaching equilibrium point where interest rate is 3% and quantity supplied / demanded is 5 Billion $