📚 Learning Guide
Open Market Operations
hard

How does a central bank use open market operations to implement a contractionary policy?

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Learning Path
Learning Path

Question & Answer
1
Understand Question
2
Review Options
3
Learn Explanation
4
Explore Topic

Choose the Best Answer

A

By purchasing government securities to increase money supply

B

By selling government securities to decrease money supply

C

By lowering interest rates to encourage borrowing

D

By increasing government spending to stimulate the economy

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

A central bank uses open market operations to control the money supply in the economy, which can help slow down inflation. When it wants to implement a contractionary policy, it sells government securities, like bonds, to banks and financial institutions. This means that banks pay money to buy these securities, which reduces the amount of money they have available to lend. For example, if a central bank sells $1 million in bonds, banks lose that money, making it harder for them to give out loans. As a result, less money is flowing in the economy, which can help cool down rising prices.

Detailed Explanation

When a central bank sells government securities, it takes money out of the economy. Other options are incorrect because Some might think buying securities increases money supply; Lowering interest rates encourages borrowing.

Key Concepts

Central bank
Money supply
Contractionary policy
Topic

Open Market Operations

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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