In an Effort to Address the Troubled Economy

question 37

Multiple Choice

In an effort to address the troubled economy, ..."For the ninth time in just over a year, the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates, quite possibly its last reduction in this downturn." Rates have not been this low "... since 2003, when the economy was growing at a snail's pace." www.csmonitor.com, 10/28/2008
The Fed's rates cuts will initially impact ________ and eventually ________.

• A) bank reserves; government spending
• B) the money supply; bank reserves
• C) bank reserves; real GDP
• D) investment; the real interest rate

---

Definitions:

Maturity Risk Premium

The additional yield that investors demand to compensate for the risk of holding a longer-term debt instrument, over and above the risk of short-term instruments.

Default Risk

The risk that a borrower will not make the required payments on their debt obligations, leading to a default.

Semiannual Coupon

Interest payments made to bond investors every six months as part of the bond's fixed-income return.

Bond Rating

An evaluation provided by a credit rating agency regarding the creditworthiness of a bond issuer, affecting the interest rates and investment appeal of its bonds.