Three Players in the Money Supply Process are:
- The Federal
Reserve: In determining the monetary policy of the nation,
the Fed manipulates the money supply to affect the macro economy.
When the Fed increases the money supply going into the economy, the
monetary policy set by the Fed is said to be expansionary. This
encourages investment and subsequently increases consumption
demand. In the long run, however, an expansionary policy can lead
to higher prices and inflation. Therefore, it is the Fed’s
responsibility to maintain a proper balance and prevent the economy
from both hyperinflation and recession.
- Central banks
affect the quantity of money in circulation by buying or selling
government securities through the process known as open market
operations. This will usually raise interest rates, because there
is less money available while assuming demand is the same. The
central bank can also buy foreign currency which will lower the
money supply and increase interest rates.
- Depositors or
the Institutions.