The mandate of the Federal Reserve
in the US is to conduct monetary policy for the achievement of
three goals
- Maximum Sustainable
Employment: It is the highest level of employment that the US
economy can sustain while maintaining a stable inflation rate. This
is because, as per the Phillips curve, inflation and unemployment
rate are inversely related. A decrease in unemployment will result
in higher inflation.
- Stable Prices: In other
words, ensuring that prices don’t fluctuate much, so that consumers
and businesses don’t have to worry about increasing or decreasing
prices.
- Moderate Long-Term Interest
Rate: Ensuring moderate long-term interest rate to ensure that
inflation is contained but at the same time investment is also not
adversely affected.
Now it is given that unemployment
rate is currently low in the US. So, the focus of the Federal
Reserve will be on maintaining moderate long-term
interest rate.