Can the Nominal Interest Rate Ever Be Negative? Can the Real

question 17

Essay

Can the nominal interest rate ever be negative? Can the real interest rate ever be negative? Explain.

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Definitions:

Discount Rate

The discount rate, in finance, is the interest rate used to determine the present value of future cash flows, influencing the attractiveness of investments.

Perpetuity

A financial instrument that provides a stream of indefinite cash flows, or payments, with no end date.

Interest Rate

Interest rate is the proportion of a loan that is charged as interest to the borrower, typically expressed as an annual percentage of the loan outstanding.

Nominal Rate

The stated interest rate on a loan or investment, not accounting for inflation or compounding of interest.