📚 Learning Guide
Money Demand and Interest Rates
hard

How does the precautionary motive for holding money relate to the liquidity preference theory in the context of real interest rates?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

Higher real interest rates increase the precautionary demand for money due to lower expected returns on investments.

B

Lower real interest rates decrease the liquidity preference, making individuals hold less money for precautionary purposes.

C

Individuals are more likely to hold money for precautionary reasons when real interest rates are high, as they prioritize liquidity over investment.

D

The precautionary motive is unrelated to liquidity preference and real interest rates.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

The precautionary motive for holding money means that people want to keep some cash on hand for unexpected expenses, like medical bills or car repairs. This is related to liquidity preference theory, which suggests that people prefer to hold money that is easily accessible rather than investing it in things that might take time to convert back into cash. When real interest rates are low, holding money is less costly because the opportunity to earn interest on savings is reduced, making it more appealing to keep cash for emergencies. For example, if a person knows they might need to pay for a sudden car repair, they might choose to hold onto more cash instead of putting it in a savings account where it could earn a little interest. Therefore, the precautionary motive leads people to demand more money when real interest rates are low, as they prioritize being ready for unforeseen costs.

Detailed Explanation

When real interest rates are high, people prefer to keep cash handy. Other options are incorrect because This answer suggests that higher interest rates make people want more cash; This option says lower interest rates mean people hold less cash.

Key Concepts

Liquidity Preference
Precautionary Motive
Real Interest Rate
Topic

Money Demand and Interest Rates

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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