Which of the following statements is true?

Answer

A.

The Federal Reserve does not set the Federal funds rate, but it influences it through the use of open market operations.

B.

The Federal Reserve will set a higher target for the Federal funds rate if pursuing an expansionary monetary policy.

C.

The Federal Reserve sets the target for the Federal funds rate, and then uses the reserve ratio to push banks toward that target.

D.

The Federal Reserve sets the Federal funds rate.

These statements are true:

A) The Federal Reserve does not set the Federal funds rate, but it influences it through the use of open market operations:

For example, at the very moment the Fed funds rate is 1.75%. If the Fed wanted to raise it to 2%, it would have to do so through the use of open market operations (in this case, because it wants to raise the rate, it would have to sell securities in order to reduce the money supply).

C) The Federal Reserve sets the target for the Federal funds rate, and then uses the reserve ratio to push banks toward that target.

Reserve requirements are perhaps the most powerful, and least often used, monetary policy tool that the Fed has at its disposal. It is very powerful because it directly increases or decreases the money supply.

For example, if the Fed wants to increase the fed funds rate, it can raise the reserve ratio so that banks keep more money in reserves, have less money to loan, and in consequence, create less money, causing the money supply to shrink and the fed funds rate to rise accordingly.

D) The Federal Reserve sets the Federal funds rate.

Correct. More specifically, the Federal Open Market Committee, which meets eight times a year to set the target for the fed funds rate.