Abstract
In response to the world economic crisis of 2008 the authorities of many countries have launched policies of interest rate reduction through large-scale asset purchases on the open PDUNHW7KHSDSHUSURYLGHVDQHI¿FLHQF\DQDO\VLVRIWKHVHSURJUDPVDVLPSOHPHQWHGLQWKH 86$WKH(XUR]RQHDQGWKH8.,WDOVRVWXGLHVWKHSRVLWLYHDQGQHJDWLYHHIIHFWVRIDUWL¿FLDO key rate targeting. The author explains how changes of the federal funds rate increased bank interest rate risk and provoked the recession of 2007-2009. The results of this paper show that NH\LQWHUHVWUDWHDGMXVWPHQWFDQEHKDUPIXOIRUWKHZKROHHFRQRP\DQGHVSHFLDOO\IRU¿QDQFLDO institutions.
Keywords: LQWHUHVW UDWH WDUJHWLQJ ¿QDQFLDO FULVLV LQWHUHVW UDWH ULVN IHGHUDO IXQGV UDWH commercial bank.
1. Introduction
(FRQRPLFFULVLVZKLFKEHJDQLQWKH86$LQQHJDWLYHO\DIIHFWHGWKHZKROHJOREDOL]HG ¿QDQFLDODQGFRPPRGLW\PDUNHW'HHSUHFHVVLRQDQGVN\URFNHWLQJJRYHUQPHQWGHEWLQPDQ\ countries were triggered by the mortgage crisis and stock market crash in the United States. 7KHFULVLVDOVRUHYHDOHGQXPHURXVULVN\XQGHUWDNLQJVRIWKHZRUOGIDPRXV¿QDQFLDOJLDQWV These facts are indeed undeniable and have become the part of economic history, but one very FKDOOHQJLQJTXHVWLRQUHPDLQVXQH[SODLQHGZKDWFLUFXPVWDQFHVIRUFHGPDQDJHUVRIODUJHDQG reliable banks to rush into such risky undertakings as sub-prime lending and investing huge amounts of assets in mortgage-backed securities? Of course, we could say that the bankers just made a mistake; however, the idea of mass delusion of highly skilled specialists seems WREHHUURQHRXV7KLVSDSHULQYHVWLJDWHVZKHWKHUWKDWUHFNOHVV¿QDQFLDOPDUNHWEHKDYLRUZDV SURYRNHGE\DGLIIHUHQWIDFWRUVLJQL¿FDQWDQGUHSHWLWLYHFKDQJHVRIWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHE\ the Federal Reserve System.
One of the basic instruments of central bank monetary policy is steering the short-term money market rate with the help of open market operations. In the United States, this rate is called the federal funds rate and in the Eurozone, WKHPDLQUH¿QDQFLQJUDWH,WSOD\VDYHU\ LPSRUWDQWUROHLQWKH¿QDQFLDOPDUNHWDVLWGHWHUPLQHVWKHFRVWRILQWHUEDQNRYHUQLJKWORDQV ZKLFKWKHQLQÀXHQFHVWKHRYHUDOOOHYHORILQWHUHVWUDWHVLQWKHFRXQWU\7KXVWDUJHWLQJRINH\
TARGETING OF KEY
INTEREST RATE
AS A SOURCE OF CRISIS
YANA SOKOLOVA
St. Petersburg State University, Faculty of Economics, Russia
interest rate is a powerful instrument of monetary policy. The objective of this paper is to study SRVLWLYHDQGQHJDWLYHHIIHFWVRIDUWL¿FLDONH\UDWHDGMXVWPHQWDQGHVWLPDWHWKHHI¿FLHQF\RIVXFK kind of monetary policy. To reach the established objective, the following research methods ZHUHHPSOR\HGFRPSDUDWLYHDQDO\VLVDQGV\QWKHVLVTXDQWLWDWLYHDQGTXDOLWDWLYHDSSURDFKHV observation and aggregation.
2. Literature review
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government and central bank enables to conduct monetary policy. Literature review shows that over the period of the history there were a lot of advocates and opponents of key interest rate WDUJHWLQJDQGPRQH\VXSSO\UHJXODWLRQ7KHPRVWZHOONQRZQWKHRULVWVLQWKLVDUHDDUH-0 .H\QHVDQG0)ULHGPDQ$PRQJWKHSURPLQHQWRSSRQHQWVRINH\LQWHUHVWUDWH WDUJHWLQJVKRXOGEHPHQWLRQHGVXFKVFLHQWLVWVDV015RWKEDUGDQG-76DOHUQR
Economists that came to the agreement for the general question had different opinions DERXWVRPHGHWDLOV)RUH[DPSOH-0.H\QHVEHOLHYHGWKDWZKHQDQHZNH\LQWHUHVWUDWHLV established it should be brought to the determinate size by open market operations. However, 0)ULHGPDQVWDWHGWKDWRSHQPDUNHWRSHUDWLRQVVKRXOGSURYLGHVWHDG\JURZWKRIPRQHWDU\ EDVHDOORZLQJLQWHUHVWUDWHVWRÀXFWXDWHDVWKH\ZLOO015RWKEDUGDQG-76DOHUQRZHUH against of monetary authority intervention on the market as they thought that it causes the GLVWRUWLRQRI¿QDQFLDOV\VWHP7KLVSDSHUFRPSDUHVDQGFRQWUDVWVGLIIHUHQWVFLHQWL¿FRXWORRNV and presents the author’s view of the problem.
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Let us consider monetary policy mechanism that is widely applied all over the world. If the economy falls into recession, central banks of many countries tend to lower base interest UDWHV$FFRUGLQJWRWKH1DWLRQDO%XUHDXRI(FRQRPLF5HVHDUFKDUHFHVVLRQLVGH¿QHGDVD GHFUHDVHLQEXVLQHVVDFWLYLW\³ODVWLQJPRUHWKDQDIHZPRQWKVQRUPDOO\YLVLEOHLQUHDO*'3 UHDOLQFRPHHPSOR\PHQWLQGXVWULDOSURGXFWLRQDQGZKROHVDOHUHWDLOVDOHV´1DWLRQDO%XUHDX RI(FRQRPLF5HVHDUFK/RZLQWHUHVWUDWHVUHGXFHGE\DFHQWUDOEDQNPDNHORDQVPRUH affordable and increase demand for them. The real sector of the economy gets on opportunity to raise cheap funds, which stimulates its development. As a result, unemployment falls and the *URVV'RPHVWLF3URGXFWVWDUWVWRULVHDJDLQ
A rapid economic growth rate and an excess of consumer demand over productive capacity FDQOHDGWRWKH³RYHUKHDWLQJ´RIDQHFRQRP\LQFUHDVHLQÀDWLRQDQGFRQVHTXHQWO\FDXVHPDUNHW meltdowns. In such cases, central banks usually decide to increase key interest rate. This provides monetary contraction in the economy because the cost of interbank overnight loans rises, which leads to increase in all other interest rates. Therefore, the business activity and LQÀDWLRQUDWHVORZGRZQ
In order to reduce interest rates, central banks increase the money supply by purchasing government liabilities on the open market. Thus, the amount of money in the economy grows and its cost falls, which means that loan interest rates decrease. If a central bank pursues the goal of increase in interest rates, it sells government liabilities on the open market. As a result, monetary funds raised by a central bank are recalled from circulation. The supply of
PRQH\VKULQNVDQGLQWHUHVWUDWHVULVH6RDW¿UVWJODQFHWKLVPHFKDQLVPORRNVVLPSOHDQG harmless.
4. Disadvantages of targeting the level of interest rates
Although in theory, the motivations and results of open market operations are convincing and logical, in practice, we are faced by several nuances that drastically change the picture and lead to undesirable consequences. The disadvantages of targeting the key interest rate can be illustrated by the outcomes of the Federal Reserve System’s behavior in the USA. This FRXQWU\ZDVFKRVHQQRWRQO\EHFDXVHLWLVWKHSODFHZKHUHWKHJOREDOHFRQRPLFFULVLVRI was conceived, but also because it has a huge stock market, which gives the USA the ability to change its federal funds rate quickly and effectively.
Theoretically, the decline of the federal funds rate stimulates economic growth, and the LQFUHDVHRIWKLVUDWHKHOSVWRFRPEDWLQÀDWLRQ,QVSLWHRIWKHIDFWWKDWWKLVSDWWHUQLQVRPHFDVHV can be really seen on diagrams in Figure 1, there are also situations in which practice differs from theory. If the federal funds rate was DUWL¿FLDOO\GHFUHDVHGLQÀDWLRQFDQUXQRXWRIFRQWURO and reach a high level, which undoubtedly hampers economic development. The rapid increase of prices doesn’t allow depositary institutions to reduce the loan interest rates because they must compensate for the depreciation of money. For instance, with the considerable decline RIWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHZHFDQREVHUYHWKHVWDJÀDWLRQRIWKH86HFRQRP\LQ)LJXUH :KLOHWKH*'3ZDVSOXPPHWLQJWKHLQÀDWLRQUDWHZDVVN\URFNHWLQJ2QWKHRWKHUKDQG DVLJQL¿FDQWLQFUHDVHLQWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHFDQOHDGWRDVORZGRZQRUHYHQWRDGURSLQ HFRQRPLFJURZWKDVLWRFFXUUHGLQ ,QRWKHUZRUGVLQVWHDGRI¿QGLQJRXWWKHUHDVRQVEHKLQGUHFHVVLRQDQGHOLPLQDWLQJWKHP WKH)HGHUDO5HVHUYH6\VWHPMXVWUHGXFHVWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWH$QLQFUHDVHLQ*'3VWLPXODWHG in such a way, generally results in distortion and overheating of the market. In this case, the )HGHUDO5HVHUYHUDLVHVWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHLQRUGHUWRVORZGRZQLQÀDWLRQ7KLVFRXUVHRI action usually leads to another recession. Economic downturn doesn’t occur out of nowhere. Rather, it is a signal that something has gone wrong. First of all, it is necessary to understand H[DFWO\ZKLFKIDFWRUVDUHQHJDWLYHO\LQÀXHQFLQJWKHEXVLQHVVFOLPDWHDQGmake every effort to eliminate them. Instead, the Federal Reserve begins to conduct open market operations by acquiring government securities and injecting money into the economy. Therefore, interest UDWHVIDOODVDUHVXOWRIDQDUWL¿FLDOH[SDQVLRQRIWKHPRQH\VXSSO\DQGQRWGXHWRLQFUHDVHG UHYHQXHV IURP SUR¿WDEOH SURMHFWV 7KH )HGHUDO 5HVHUYH HQFRXUDJHV HQWUHSUHQHXUV WR LQYHVW LQ LQHI¿FLHQW EXVLQHVVHV WKDW KDYH DOUHDG\ FDXVHG UHFHVVLRQ7KXV PRWLYDWLRQWR FDUGLQDOO\ FKDQJHSURGXFWLRQWHFKQRORJ\DQGGLVWULEXWLRQV\VWHPVLVVXI¿FLHQWO\UHGXFHG&ULVLVVKRXOG VWLPXODWHWKHDSSHDUDQFHRILQQRYDWLRQVDQGWKHH[LWRIXQSUR¿WDEOHRUJDQL]DWLRQVIURPWKH market. The monetary policy of targeting key interest rate by open market operations impedes progressive changes. This measure usually has only short-term effects because, in time, old problems begin to crop up again. Only investments of real savings and resources, accumulated by the effective work of production and service spheres, can lead to stable, long-term economic growth. Similar opinions on this question were expressed by A.R.J. Turgot, J. Bentham and FHUWDLQUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVRIWKH$XVWULDQVFKRROLQFOXGLQJ015RWKEDUGDQG-76DOHUQR
)LJXUH±,QÀXHQFHRIWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHRQLQÀDWLRQUDWH and GDP percent change in the USA.
Source: Compiled by the author from data published by the Federal Reserve System (Federal Funds 6RXUFH &RPSLOHG E\ WKH DXWKRU IURP GDWD SXEOLVKHG E\ WKH )HGHUDO 5HVHUYH 6\VWHP )HGHUDO)XQGV5DWHWKH86'HSDUWPHQWRI/DERU&RQVXPHU3ULFH,QGH[DQGWKH%XUHDXRI (FRQRPLF$QDO\VLV*URVV'RPHVWLF3URGXFW
'XH WR WKH ZRUOG ¿QDQFLDO FULVLV PDQ\ FRXQWULHV DORQJ ZLWK WKH 86$ LVVXHG PRUH JRYHUQPHQW OLDELOLWLHV WR PDNH XS WKH EXGJHW GH¿FLW 7KH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV 7UHDVXU\ VKRXOG maintain a large amount of outstanding securities not only to raise additional money, but also in order to afford an opportunity for the Federal Reserve to conduct open market operations. 7KLV VLJQL¿FDQWO\ LQFUHDVHV JRYHUQPHQW GHEW ZKLFK VXSSRVHV UHJXODU LQWHUHVW SD\PHQWV ,QWKHDJJUHJDWHYROXPHRI86ERUURZLQJVUHDFKHGWULOOLRQGROODUVDQGEHFDPH DSSUR[LPDWHO\HTXDOWRWKHVL]HRILWV*URVV'RPHVWLF3URGXFW,QWHUQDWLRQDO0RQHWDU\)XQG 7KLVVLWXDWLRQOHGWRWKHORZHULQJRILWVFUHGLWUDWLQJDQGWKHGHWHULRUDWLRQRIHFRQRPLF FRQGLWLRQVLQWKHFRXQWU\$OVRWKH(XUR]RQHVXIIHUVIURPVLJQL¿FDQWGHEWEXUGHQZKLFKZDV LQFUHDVHGLQRUGHUWRVWLPXODWHHFRQRPLFJURZWK)RUH[DPSOH3RUWXJDO,UHODQGDQG*UHHFH KDYHGLI¿FXOWLHVZLWKUHSD\PHQWRIWKHLUERUURZLQJV 0RUHRYHULWLVLPSRVVLEOHWRMXVWLI\WKHKXJHH[SHQGLWXUHVRIWKH)HGHUDO5HVHUYH6\VWHP WKDWZHUHLQVHUWHGGLUHFWO\LQWRFRPPHUFLDOEDQNVLQRUGHUWR¿JKWDJDLQVWWKHODFNRIOLTXLGLW\ GXULQJWKH¿QDQFLDOFULVLVRI%DQNVREWDLQHGELOOLRQGROODUVDQGZHUHH[SHFWHG WRRIIHUPRUHGRPHVWLFORDQVDQGUH¿QDQFHPRUWJDJHV+RZHYHUWKH\GHFLGHGWRPDNHPRUH SUR¿WDEOH LQYHVWPHQWV DQG SXW WKH PRQH\ LQWR IRUHLJQ FXUUHQFLHV DQG HPHUJLQJ PDUNHWV (6WLJOLW]. As a result, the internal problems of the U.S. economy were not solved and PRQH\ÀRZHGRXWRYHUVHDV
,WLVZRUWKPHQWLRQLQJWKDWWKHUHLVWLPHODJRI±PRQWKVEHWZHHQWKHDQQRXQFHPHQWRI a new federal funds rate and its appearance at that level on the interbank market. Therefore, the Federal Reserve System must foresee changes in the economy and take measures to SUHYHQWUHFHVVLRQRUUHGXFHLQÀDWLRQEHIRUHWKRVHHYHQWVKDSSHQLQUHDOLW\7KDWEHLQJVDLG the possibility for error in such forecasts always exists, and monetary policies that can be very expensive may lead to negative results.
on the general condition of a country’s economy, but they are especially detrimental WRWKH¿QDQFLDOV\VWHP$QDUWL¿FLDOFKDQJHLQNH\UDWHWKURZVWKHPDUNHWRIIEDODQFH Commercial banks sometimes don’t have enough time to readjust for new conditions due WRPDQ\UHDVRQV7KXVNH\UDWHFKDQJHVVXI¿FLHQWO\LQFUHDVHDOOVRXUFHVRIEDQNLQWHUHVWUDWH risk such as repricing risk, yield curve risk, risk of embedded options and basis risk.
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7KHGLDJUDPRI*'3SHUFHQWFKDQJHLQ)LJXUHVKRZVWKDWLQDQRWLFHDEOHHFRQRPLF downturn caused by mass shares depreciation of internet trading companies occurred in the USA. Consequently, hundreds of organizations, which worked through websites and were referred to as dot-coms, became bankrupt, and were liquidated or sold. This happened because most business modelVRILQWHUQHWFRPSDQLHVZHUHLQHI¿FLHQWDQGWKHPRQH\WKDWZDVPDGHRQ WKHVWRFNPDUNHWZDVVSHQWRQPDUNHWLQJFDPSDLJQVDQGDGYHUWLVLQJ2Q6HSWHPEHUD FUXHODFWRIWHUURULVPDOVRVKRRNWKH86HFRQRP\$QG¿QDOO\WKHODUJH$PHULFDQFRPSDQLHV Enron and WorldCom collapsed as their huge illegal RYHUVWDWHPHQWRISUR¿Ws was disclosed.$W¿UVWJODQFHWKHSUREOHPVRIWKH86$WKDWFDXVHGUHFHVVLRQLQVHHPWREHUDWKHUVHULRXV however, close scrutiny reveals that they were relatively local and temporary. The bankruptcy RIXQSUR¿WDEOHLQWHUQHWFRPSDQLHVmade room forPRUHHI¿FLHQWEXVLQHVVHVZKLFKVRXJKWIRU investments. The events of September 11 were a huge shock, but they did not have a long-term QHJDWLYHLQÀXHQFHRQWKHHFRQRP\)LQDQFLDOVWDWHPHQWVIDOVL¿FDWLRQVFRXOGEHHOLPLQDWHGE\ increasing legislative pressure and government control. However, authorities considered these PHDVXUHVLQVXI¿FLHQWDQGGHFLGHGWRVWLPXODWH*'3JURZWKE\GHFUHDVLQJWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWH
$VPDOOUHGXFWLRQLQWKHNH\LQWHUHVWUDWHSUREDEO\ZRXOGQRWKDUPWKH¿QDQFLDOV\VWHPEXW WKHIDOORIWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHE\IURPWRRYHUWKHSHULRGIURP-DQXDU\ WR-XQH)LJXUHKDGDVLJQL¿FDQWQHJDWLYHHIIHFW'HSRVLWRU\LQVWLWXWLRQVXVXDOO\KDYH a large variety of assets and liabilities, which mature and reprice at different times. Thus, the H[WUHPHO\VKDUSGHFOLQHLQUDWHVZKLFKODVWHGPRQWKVIURP-DQXDU\WR1RYHPEHU SODFHGFRQVLGHUDEOHVWUHVVRQWKHPDUNHWDQGVLJQL¿FDQWO\LQFUHDVHGVRFDOOHGUHSULFLQJDQG\LHOG curve risks. If, during that period, a bank expected more assets than liabilities to be redeemed or UHSULFHGLWVXIIHUHGIURPDUHGXFWLRQLQSUR¿WV)RUH[DPSOHUDWHVHQVLWLYHOLDELOLWLHVDUHHTXDOWR PLOOLRQGROODUVDQGEHDUSHUFHQWLQWHUHVWSHUDQQXP7KHVHSD\PHQWVIRUFRPPLWPHQWVDUH ¿QDQFHGE\PLOOLRQGROODUVRIUDWHVHQVLWLYHDVVHWVWKDWHDUQSHUFHQWSHUDQQXP7KHEDQN QHWLQWHUHVWLQFRPHLVHTXDOWRPLOOLRQGROODUV,ILQWHUHVWUDWHVIDOOE\DIWHUWKHUHGHPSWLRQ DQGUHSULVDORI¿QDQFLDOLQVWUXPHQWVWKHQHZUDWHVZLOOEHHTXDOWRDQGUHVSHFWLYHO\6R WKHQHWLQWHUHVWLQFRPHZLOOGHFUHDVHIURPPLOOLRQGROODUVWRPLOOLRQGROODUV ,WFRXOGEHZRUVHLIDEDQN¿QDQFHGORQJWHUPXQFDOODEOHOLDELOLWLHVZLWK¿[HGUDWHVE\ VKRUWWHUPDVVHWV/RQJWHUPUDWHVRIFRPPLWPHQWVZRXOGVWD\IRUH[DPSOHDWDQGVKRUW WHUP UDWHV RI HDUQLQJ DVVHWV ZRXOG IDOO IURP WR 7KXV LQWHUHVW LQFRPH ZRXOG QRW cover interest expense anymore and the bank would suffer losses. In this situation, the yield curve of the bank portfolio would steepen as the difference between short-term and long-term UDWHVZRXOGWHPSRUDU\LQFUHDVH$OWKRXJKGHSRVLWRU\LQVWLWXWLRQVDUHQRWL¿HGDERXWFRPLQJ GHFUHDVHVRULQFUHDVHVLQWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHLWFDQEHYHU\GLI¿FXOWDQGFRVWO\IRUWKHP to change the balance structure in order to reduce interest rate risk. Of course, a drop in the interest rates level can put some banks in favorable positions. If a bank has more rate-sensitive OLDELOLWLHVWKDQUDWHVHQVLWLYHDVVHWVWKDWLVLILW¿QDQFHVVKRUWWHUPOLDELOLWLHVZLWKORQJWHUP
DVVHWVLWPD\LQFUHDVHSUR¿WVXQWLOWKHERUURZHUVVWDUWWRUH¿QDQFHWKHLUORDQVDWORZHUUDWHV 7KXVWKHUHDOVHFWRURIWKHHFRQRP\DFWLYHO\LQFXUUHGGHEWVLQZKLOHFRPPHUFLDO EDQNVZHUHJUDGXDOO\ORVLQJWKHLUSUR¿WV:LWKWKHGHFOLQHLQUDWHVWKH\HDUQHGOHVVLQFRPHRQ assets and had to pay higher interest on liabilities, which were attracted, for example, one year earlier. Since the rates had been diminished, individuals and entities borrowed money more ZLOOLQJO\0RUWJDJHORDQVJDLQHGVSHFLDOSRSXODULW\,QDGGLWLRQPDQ\$PHULFDQKRPHRZQHUV XVHG WKLV RSSRUWXQLW\ WR UH¿QDQFH WKHLU ORDQV %DQNV RQ WKHLU SDUW FRXOG QRW XQLODWHUDOO\ dissolve agreements for long term deposits, which still were bearing high interest rates. Thus, the interest rate risk of depository institutions continued to grow.
In Figure 2, we can perfectly observe the inverse relation between changes in the federal IXQGVUDWHDQGWKHFRQVWDQWSUHSD\PHQWUDWH&357KH&35VKRZVWKHVKDUHRIORDQSULQFLSDO WKDWZLOOEHUH¿QDQFHGRUSUHSD\HGGXULQJWKHQH[WPRQWKV:LWKDGHFUHDVHLQWKHIHGHUDO IXQGVUDWHDQGWKHFRQVHTXHQWGHFUHDVHLQWKHPRUWJDJHORDQVUDWHWKHSHUFHQWRIUH¿QDQFHG borrowings rises. And vice versa, with an increase in the federal funds and mortgage rates, the VKDUHRIUH¿QDQFHGORDQVIDOOV7KHVDPHFRUUHODWLRQFDQEHUHWUDFHGIRUDOOFDOODEOHOLDELOLWLHV DFTXLUHGE\GHSRVLWDU\LQVWLWXWLRQV7KHSUREDELOLW\RI¿QDQFLDOLQVWUXPHQWV¶HDUO\UHGHPSWLRQ or withdrawal is called the risk of embedded options; that is one of the main interest rate risks of commercial banks. The monetary policy of the Federal Reserve System provoked an increase LQWKHUH¿QDQFLQJDQGSUHSD\PHQWUDWHLQ±ZKLFKUHDFKHGLWVSHDNLQ)LJXUH ZKHQERUURZHUVUH¿QDQFHGRIPRUWJDJHVOHQWLQWKLV\HDU+HGEHUJHWDO
)LJXUH±7KHLQÀXHQFHRIWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHRQ&35DQGFRPPLWPHQWUDWH of 30-year conventional mortgagesof 30-year conventional mortgages
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7KHQHFHVVLW\RIUH¿QDQFLQJORDQVDWORZHUUDWHVIRUFHGEDQNVWRVHDUFKIRUDOWHUQDWLYH sources of funds. This situation caused an increase in demand for mortgage-backed securities. 7KHVH¿QDQFLDOLQVWUXPHQWVRIIHUHGDQRSSRUWXQLW\WRVORZGRZQWKHGHFOLQHLQQHWPDUJLQGXH to interest spread drop. However, the aggregate net interest margin of depository institutions in WKH86$FRQWLQXHGWRIDOO)URPWKHEHJLQQLQJRIWRWKHHQGRIPDUJLQGHFUHDVHGE\ EDVLVSRLQWV)HGHUDO'HSRVLW,QVXUDQFH&RUSRUDWLRQ7KHLVVXHVRIFROODWHUDOL]HGPRUWJDJH
obligations enabled banks to receive money back quickly without waiting for the date of loan repayment and invest these funds again to obtain additional income. The risk of mortgage securities defaults was successfully hedged by credit derivatives. Over the SHULRGIURPWRWKHSUHVHQWWLPHWKHDPRXQWRIFUHGLWGHULYDWLYHVLQVHFXULWLHVSRUWIROLRVRI FRPPHUFLDOEDQNVKDVLQFUHDVHGE\WLPHV2I¿FHRIWKH&RQWUROOHURIWKH&XUUHQF\
$V ZH FDQ VHH LQ )LJXUH IURP WR WKH PRUWJDJHEDFNHG VHFXULWLHV PDUNHW developed rapidly. ,WLVQHFHVVDU\WRQRWHWKDWLQGHPDQGIRUPRUWJDJHORDQVEHJDQWR decline, as the majority of the creditworthy population had already borrowed money and bought KRXVHV+RZHYHULWZDVGLI¿FXOWWRDEDQGRQLVVXLQJDQGSXUFKDVLQJPRUWJDJHEDFNHGVHFXULWLHV and other collateralized debt obligations, as the demand for them grew rapidly. Besides, banks needed additional sources of funds, as they were LQYROYHGLQ¿QDQFLDOGLI¿FXOWLHVFDXVHGE\86 PRQHWDU\SROLF\$W¿UVWWKH)HGHUDO5HVHUYH6\VWHPVLJQL¿FDQWO\GHFUHDVHGWKHIHGHUDOIXQGV UDWHDQGWKHQDIWHUREWDLQLQJWKHGHVLUHGULVHLQ*'3LWEHJDQWRLQFUHDVHWKHNH\UDWH)LJXUH By that time, commercial banks had already lent a large amount of long-term mortgage loans at low interest rates and were faced with the problem of how to conduct payments for new deposits with high interest rates. Thus, the gap between earnings on assets and costs of liabilities narrowed and net interest income fell. The Federal Reserve considerably increased repricing and the yield FXUYHULVNRIGHSRVLWRU\LQVWLWXWLRQVE\UDLVLQJWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHIURPWRRYHU WKHSHULRGIURP-XQHWR-XQH)LJXUH6LQFHWKHGHPDQGIRUKRXVLQJZDVDOPRVW VDWLV¿HGEDQNVKDGQRFKRLFHEXWWRRIIHUPRUWJDJHVWRVXESULPHERUURZHUVZLWKXQFRQ¿UPHG incomes and without initial payment. This decision was provoked by high demand for mortgage VHFXULWLHVZKLFKJDYHEDQNVDQRSSRUWXQLW\WRHDUQQHFHVVDU\SUR¿WV
,Q'HFHPEHUWKHPDUNHW\LHOGFXUYHUHYHUVHGGXHWRWKHVN\URFNHWHGIHGHUDOIXQGV rate and open market operations of the Federal Reserve. This meant that short-term rates H[FHHGHGORQJWHUPUDWHV6LQFHWKHODJEHWZHHQDQLQYHUVLRQRIWKH867UHDVXU\\LHOG curve and the beginning of a recession has been, on average, equal to 14 months (National %XUHDXRI(FRQRPLF5HVHDUFK/DVWUHFHVVLRQVWDUWHGDIWHUPRQWKVRQ'HFHPEHU 3UREDEO\WKLVODJZDVODUJHULQFRPSDULVRQZLWKRWKHUVEHFDXVHWKH\LHOGFXUYHZDVÀDW or slightly inverted for a long time prior the beginning of the recession.
Figure 3 – The amount of mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities provided by depository institutions in the USAdepository institutions in the USA
Source: Compiled by the author from data published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
6RXUFH &RPSLOHG E\ WKH DXWKRU IURP GDWD SXEOLVKHG E\ WKH )HGHUDO 'HSRVLW ,QVXUDQFH &RUSRUDWLRQ4XDUWHUO\%DQNLQJ3UR¿OHV
Since World War II, only twice has the yield curve inverted without being followed by a UHFHVVLRQ7KLVRFFXUUHGLQGXULQJWKH9LHWQDP:DUDQGLQZKHQWKH867UHDVXU\ DQQRXQFHGDSURJUDPWREX\EDFNRXWVWDQGLQJORQJWHUP7UHDVXU\ERQGV.RFKHWDO 0RQHWDU\DXWKRULWLHVXVXDOO\H[SODLQWKDWWKH\FKDQJHWKHNH\LQWHUHVWUDWHLQRUGHUWRVPRRWK business cycles amplitudes. This can be reasonable if monetary policy doesn’t lead to an LQYHUVLRQRIWKH\LHOGFXUYH/RQJWHUP¿QDQFLDOLQVWUXPHQWVDUHULVNLHUWKDQVKRUWWHUPRQHV DQGWKLVVKRXOGEHUHÀHFWHGLQWKHVL]HRIWKHLULQWHUHVWUDWHV0DQ\DQDO\VWVDWWULEXWHWKHODFN of recession during the Vietnam War to massive federal government spending. An increase in VWDWHH[SHQGLWXUHVFDQKHOSWR¿JKWUHFHVVLRQEXWLWLVEHWWHUWRLQYHVWLQWKHSXEOLFJRRGVDQG GHYHORSWKHLQIUDVWUXFWXUHRIDFRXQWU\UDWKHUWKDQ¿QDQFHZDUVRUFRQGXFWODUJHVFDOHRSHQ market operations.
&KDQJLQJWKHNH\UDWHDOVRLQÀXHQFHVEDVLVULVNZKLFK³DULVHVIURPLPSHUIHFWFRUUHODWLRQ in the adjustment of the rates earned and paid on different instruments with otherwise similar UHSULFLQJ FKDUDFWHULVWLFV´ %DQN IRU ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6HWWOHPHQW 'HSRVLWRU\ LQVWLWXWLRQV KROG DVVHWV DQG OLDELOLWLHV ZLWK ¿[HG DQG ÀRDWLQJ LQWHUHVW UDWHV:KLOH WKH )HGHUDO 5HVHUYH 6\VWHP ZDV GHFUHDVLQJ WKH IHGHUDO IXQGV UDWH EHWZHHQ DQG ¿[HG UDWHV RQ RXWVWDQGLQJ¿QDQFLDOLQVWUXPHQWVUHPDLQHGFRQVWDQWEXWÀRDWLQJUDWHVHVSHFLDOO\WKRVHWLHG WRWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHZHUHGHFUHDVLQJ%RUURZHUVWXUQHGRXWWREHLQDEHQH¿FLDOVLWXDWLRQ while commercial banks were losing their incomes. When the Federal Reserve was raising the NH\LQWHUHVWUDWHIURPWRPDQ\ERUURZHUVZKRKDGPRUWJDJHORDQVZLWKÀRDWLQJ rates felt that their debt burden had become overwhelming and gradually stopped paying it. As a result, the amount of past due loans increased (Figure 4).
0RUHRYHU LW LV ZRUWK PHQWLRQLQJ WKDW UHDO HVWDWH SULFHV JUHZ FRQVWDQWO\ XQWLO Less reliable borrowers purchased houses at higher prices and took loans with higher rates as the Federal Reserve started to increase the federal funds rate (Figure 1). By the time that PRQHWDU\SROLF\KDGDIIHFWHGLQÀDWLRQDQGUHDOHVWDWHSULFHVEHJDQWRGHFOLQHWKHVL]HRIPDQ\ homeowners’ debts exceeded the real cost of their residential property. Since that time, there KDVEHHQQREHQH¿WIURPSXUFKDVLQJKRXVHVRQFUHGLW$VSULFHVZHUHFRQVWDQWO\IDOOLQJDIWHU a while, the loan principal became larger than the market price of a house, and, in addition, the borrower had to pay interest. It is not surprising that the amount of past due loans skyrocketed. In Figure 4, we can see the correlation between a decrease in house prices and a rise in the QXPEHURIPRUWJDJHSD\PHQWVWKDWZHUHGHOD\HGE\PRUHWKDQGD\V&RQVHTXHQWO\WKH FUHGLWUDWLQJRIPRUWJDJHEDFNHGVHFXULWLHVZDVUHGXFHGLQ'HFHPEHURIDQGLQ mass defaults began. Financial institutions in the USA and other countries also suffered losses because they had issued credit derivatives for hedging asset-backed securities. As collateralized mortgage obligations of U.S. organizations were sold all over the world, the indexes of many VWRFN H[FKDQJHV FRQVLGHUDEO\ GHFUHDVHG ZKLFK QHJDWLYHO\ LQÀXHQFHG WKH JOREDO HFRQRPLF conjuncture.
Figure 4 – The correlation between decreases in house prices and rises in the amount of past-due mortgage loansdue mortgage loans
Source: Compiled by the author from data published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 6RXUFH &RPSLOHG E\ WKH DXWKRU IURP GDWD SXEOLVKHG E\ WKH )HGHUDO 'HSRVLW ,QVXUDQFH &RUSRUDWLRQ4XDUWHUO\%DQNLQJ3UR¿OHV DQGWKH)HGHUDO+RXVLQJ )LQDQFH$JHQF\)+)$ 6HDVRQDOO\$GMXVWHG+RXVH3ULFH,QGH[IRU86$4±4
7KH)HGHUDO5HVHUYH6\VWHPGHFLGHGWRVWUXJJOHZLWKWKHFULVLVRIXVLQJROGPHWKRGV DQGDJDLQVLJQL¿FDQWO\UHGXFHGIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHIURPWRRYHUWKHSHULRGIURP -XQH WR 'HFHPEHU )LJXUH 7KHVH FKDQJHV LQFUHDVHG WKH LQWHUHVW UDWH ULVN RI depository institutions, distorted the market, and deprived entrepreneurs of any stimulus to GHYHORSLQQRYDWLRQVLQRUGHUWRGHDOZLWKWKHVLWXDWLRQ%\WKHHQGRIWKH)HGHUDO5HVHUYH SROLF\RIWDUJHWLQJNH\UDWHKDGQ¶WOHGWRDFRQVLGHUDEOHULVHLQ*'3)LJXUH+RZHYHU LQÀDWLRQFRQWLQXHVWRJURZZKLFKH[SODLQVWKHVPDOOXSWXUQRIWKH*'3SHUFHQWFKDQJHLQWKH 86$,QRUGHUWR¿JKWDJDLQVWLQFUHDVHVLQLQÀDWLRQWKH)HGHUDO5HVHUYH6\VWHPZLOOSUREDEO\ start to raise the federal funds rate and cause new problems for the whole economic system all over again.
6. Comparative analysis of key rate targeting in the USA, the Eurozone
and the UK
The pattern of Federal Reserve policy is also actively implemented by the monetary authorities of other countries. The correlation between different target rates is illustrated in )LJXUH,IZHFRPSDUHWKHÀXFWXDWLRQVRIWKHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHLQWKH86$DQGWKHPDLQ UH¿QDQFLQJ UDWH LQ (XURSH ZH QRWLFH WKDW WKH (XURSHDQ &HQWUDO %DQN IROORZV WKH WUHQG RI Federal Funds System, but with smaller amplitude of oscillations. Thus, the more conservative monetary policy of the Eurozone may smooth some considerable negative effects of key interest rate targeting, but they nevertheless can damage the economy.
7KHEDVHUDWHLVWKHRQO\UDWHWKDWLVDUWL¿FLDOO\HVWDEOLVKHGE\WKH%DQNRI(QJODQGDQGLV used for enacting monetary policy. The size of the LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) is determined by the market without interventions of regulatory authorities, as opposed to the HIIHFWLYHIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHZKLFKLVWDUJHWHGE\WKH)HGHUDO5HVHUYH,Q)LJXUHZHFDQ
REVHUYHWKDWGXULQJWKHUHYLHZHGSHULRGWKHEDVHUDWHLQWKH8.ZDVPXFKPRUHVWDEOHWKDQLQ WKH(XUR]RQHDQGWKH86$XQWLO'XHWRWKHZRUOG¿QDQFLDOFULVLVWKH8QLWHG.LQJGRP decided to follow the example of other countries and the base rate plummeted to (The Bank of England).
)LJXUH±7KHFRPSDULVRQRIWDUJHWIHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHLQWKH86$PDLQUH¿QDQFLQJUDWHLQ Europe and base rate in the UKEurope and base rate in the UK
Source: Compiled by the author from data published by the Federal Reserve System (Intended Federal 6RXUFH &RPSLOHG E\ WKH DXWKRU IURP GDWD SXEOLVKHG E\ WKH )HGHUDO 5HVHUYH 6\VWHP ,QWHQGHG)HGHUDO)XQGV5DWHWKH(XURSHDQ&HQWUDO%DQN.H\(&%,QWHUHVW5DWHVDQGWKH %DQNRI(QJODQG2I¿FLDO%DQN5DWH+LVWRU\
,Q 'HFHPEHU WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ODXQFKHG D SURJUDP RI JRYHUQPHQW VHFXULWLHV SXUFKDVLQJE\RSHQPDUNHWRSHUDWLRQVFDOOHG³/DUJH6FDOH$VVHW3XUFKDVHV´/6$3V7KH WRWDOYDOXHRIWKLVSURJUDPURVHWRWULOOLRQRYHUDSHULRGRIWKUHH\HDUVIURPWR ,Q0DUFKWKH8QLWHG.LQJGRPMRLQHGWKH86$DQGLPSOHPHQWHGDSURJUDPUHIHUUHGWR DV³4XDQWLWDWLYH(DVLQJ´4(,QWKHWLPHOHDGLQJXSWRWKH%DQNRI(QJODQGSXUFKDVHG £ELOOLRQDQG³DWLWVPHHWLQJLQ)HEUXDU\WKH&RPPLWWHHGHFLGHGWRSXUFKDVH EQ WR EULQJ WRWDO DVVHW SXUFKDVHV WR EQ´ -R\FH HW DO $OVR LQ -XO\ WKH (XURV\VWHPODXQFKHGWKH³&RYHUHG%RQG3XUFKDVH3URJUDP´&%33LQWRRUGHUWRSXUFKDVH HXURGHQRPLQDWHGFRYHUHGERQGVDQGVLQFH0D\LWKDVFRQGXFWHGLQWHUYHQWLRQVLQ GHEWPDUNHWVXQGHUWKH³6HFXULWLHV0DUNHWV3URJUDP´6037KHVXPRIWRWDORSHUDWLRQVLQ WKHHXUR]RQHUHDFKHG¼ELOOLRQE\WKHHQGRIDQGFRQWLQXHGWRLQFUHDVH(XURSHDQ &HQWUDO%DQN$OODERYHPHQWLRQHGDVVHWSXUFKDVHVZHUHXQVWHULOL]HGZKLFKPHDQVWKDW monetary authorities electronically created new uncovered money in the accounts of security VHOOHUV7KXVLWLVQRWVXUSULVLQJWKDWLQ)LJXUHZHFDQVHHDULVHLQLQÀDWLRQWKDWLVKLJKHUWKDQ LQFUHDVHRIWKHQRPLQDO*'3LQDOOUHYLHZHGFRXQWULHV
0RUHRYHU WKH VFDOHRI DVVHW SXUFKDVHSURJUDPV H[FHHGHG WKH DPRXQWRI QRPLQDO*'3 JURZWKPRUHWKDQWZLFH)LJXUH,IWKHVHSURJUDPVGLGQ¶WVWLPXODWHWKHHFRQRPLFJURZWK HQRXJKWRFRYHUWKHLQÀDWLRQUDWHLWLVUHDVRQDEOHWRFRQVLGHUWKHPUDWKHULQHIIHFWLYH$PRQH\ supply that has been increased by open market operations makes loans cheaper and lowers
the market competition. Therefore, it doesn’t encourage entrepreneurs to implement new WHFKQRORJLHV7KH\SURGXFHWKHVDPHJRRGVDQGVHUYLFHVXVLQJWKHROGLQHI¿FLHQWPHWKRGV WKDWKDYHDOUHDG\OHGWRFULVLV7KH(XUR]RQHDFKLHYHGKLJKHUOHYHOVRI*'3JURZWKLQ FRPSDULVRQZLWKWKHVFDOHRIDVVHWSXUFKDVHSURJUDPV)LJXUH7KLVFDQEHH[SODLQHGE\ the fact that the European Central Bank mainly purchased privately issued bonds (Beirne, et DO7KXVLWGLUHFWO\¿QDQFHGWKHSULYDWHVHFWRURIHFRQRP\7KH)HGHUDO5HVHUYHDQG the Bank of England, on the other hand, purchased government securities, which encouraged VSHFXODWLRQDQGFDXVHGPRQH\WRÀRZRXWRYHUVHDV
Figure 6 – The Results of the Asset Purchase Programs in the USA, the Euro Area (17 countries) and the UK over a Period of Three Years (2009 - 2011)
countries) and the UK over a Period of Three Years (2009 - 2011)
Source: Compiled by the author from data published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York 6RXUFH&RPSLOHGE\WKHDXWKRUIURPGDWDSXEOLVKHGE\WKH)HGHUDO5HVHUYH%DQNRI1HZ <RUN/DUJH6FDOH$VVHW3XUFKDVHVWKH(XURSHDQ&HQWUDO%DQN2SHQPDUNHWRSHUDWLRQV WKH%DQNRI(QJODQG4XDQWLWDWLYH(DVLQJ([SODLQHGWKH(XURVWDW*URVV'RPHVWLF3URGXFW +DUPRQL]HG,QGLFHVRI&RQVXPHU3ULFHV+,&3 the U.S. Department of Labor (Consumer 3ULFH,QGH[
$FFRUGLQJ WR PRQHWDULVWV H[SHFWHG LQÀDWLRQ PD\ RFFXU LQ WKH FDVH RI UHJXODU PRQH\ LQMHFWLRQVLQWRHFRQRP\)ULHGPDQ0XWK3URGXFHUVDQGVHOOHUVHVWDEOLVKKLJKHU prices on resources and goods beforehand, as they anticipate that authorities are going to LQFUHDVHPRQH\VXSSO\ZKLFKZLOOGH¿QLWHO\HQODUJHHIIHFWLYHGHPDQG3HRSOHEHJLQWREX\ JRRGVDWKLJKHUSULFHVDQGFRQVHTXHQWO\WKHLQÀDWLRQUDWHJURZV,QVXFKVLWXDWLRQVFHQWUDO banks should try to deceive market expectations. However, if depository institutions and other ¿QDQFLDORUJDQL]DWLRQVDUHQRWLQIRUPHGDERXWWKHVFDOHRIDVVHWSXUFKDVHSURJUDPWKH\ZLOO suffer from interest rate risk.
The policy of key interest rate targeting should not be the main method used to recover IURPUHFHVVLRQRUWRVWUXJJOHZLWKLQÀDWLRQ,WFDQEHVXFFHVVIXOO\VXSSOHPHQWHGRUVXEVWLWXWHG by tax regulations, as the neoclassicists proposed $QGR)LJXUHVKRZVWKDWODUJH VFDOHLQMHFWLRQVRIPRQH\LQFUHDVHGLQÀDWLRQWRPRUHWKDQWKH*URVV'RPHVWLF3URGXFW7KXV LPSOHPHQWDWLRQRID.H\QHVLDQLVPSURSRVDOWRSXPSPRQH\LQWRWKHHFRQRP\ZLWKRXWDQ\ UHVWULFWLRQVFDQOHDGWRQHJDWLYHFRQVHTXHQFHV.H\QHV+RZHYHUWKHSURSRVDORIWKH
$XVWULDQVFKRROWRUHWXUQWRWKHJROGVWDQGDUG5RWKEDUGLVDOVRLPSRVVLEOHQRZDGD\V 7KHPRQHWDU\SROLF\RINH\UDWHWDUJHWLQJFDQEHKDUPOHVVRQO\LILWGRHVQRWVLJQL¿FDQWO\ LQFUHDVH WKH ÀXFWXDWLRQV RI LQWHUHVW UDWHV :KLOH WKH HFRQRP\ LV H[SHULHQFLQJ JURZWK WKH government should accumulate monetary reserves in order to spend them during times of recession. It is easier to cope with crisis if authorities reduce taxes, invest in the development of alternative energy sources, high tech and core industries, which enable the country to be competitive on the global market.
7. Conclusion
The conducted research has proven that key rate targeting by monetary authorities can VLJQL¿FDQWO\ KDUP WKH ZKROH HFRQRP\ DQG HVSHFLDOO\ LWV ¿QDQFLDO V\VWHP$OWKRXJK RSHQ PDUNHWRSHUDWLRQVDUHWKHRUHWLFDOO\LQWHQGHGWR¿JKWLQÀDWLRQZLWKWKHKHOSRIKLJKUDWHVDQG WRVWLPXODWHEXVLQHVVDFWLYLW\XVLQJORZUDWHVWKH\FDQFDXVHDORWRIQHJDWLYHHIIHFWVVXFKDV
x an increase in the interest rate risk; x a distortion of market;
x DULVHLQLQÀDWLRQ
x a slowdown or even drop in economic growth; x LQYHVWPHQWLQLQHI¿FLHQWSURMHFWV
x low motivation for cardinal changes and innovations; x an increase in government debt;
x the consequences of mistakes in market forecasts.
A historical analysis of federal funds rate adjustment shows that the World Financial Crisis occurred in many respects due to the rise of the main sources of interest rate risk. Firstly, sharp changes in rates increase the repricing risk, because the assets and liabilities of depository LQVWLWXWLRQVPDWXUHDQGUHSULFHDWGLIIHUHQWWLPHV7KXVFDVKÀRZVDOWHUDVLQVWHDGRIUHGHHPHG ¿QDQFLDOLQVWUXPHQWVDSSHDUQHZRQHVZLWKFKDQJHGLQWHUHVWUDWHV6HFRQGO\NH\LQWHUHVWUDWH targeting activates the risk of embedded options. If rates are lowered, this can cause massive UH¿QDQFLQJRIORDQVDQGFDOODEOHVHFXULWLHV,IUDWHVDUHUDLVHGFOLHQWVZLOOZLWKGUDZGHSRVLWV DQGLQYHVWWKHPDJDLQDWDKLJKHULQWHUHVWUDWH7KLUGO\EDVLVULVNLQFUHDVHVDVVRPHÀRDWLQJ rates of bank assets and liabilities change according to the size of the federal funds rate, and some are tied to different basic rates, which can lead to a considerable narrowing of interest VSUHDG)RXUWKO\IHGHUDOIXQGVUDWHDGMXVWPHQWLQÀXHQFHVPDUNHWH[SHFWDWLRQVDQGUDLVHVWKH risk of changes in the shape and slope of the yield curve. In particular, if a monetary authority LQFUHDVHVWKHNH\UDWH\LHOGVRIVKRUWWHUP¿QDQFLDOLQVWUXPHQWVFDQH[FHHGWKH\LHOGVRIORQJ WHUP¿QDQFLDOLQVWUXPHQWV7KXVWKH\LHOGFXUYHLQYHUWVDQGWKHPDUNHWEHFRPHVGLVWRUWHGDV long-term rates should be higher than short-term because lending money for a longer period of time carries a higher risk.
,WLVGLI¿FXOWWRGHQ\WKDWDFKDQJHLQNH\UDWHRIWHQHQDEOHVDQHFRQRP\WRUHDFKGHVLUDEOH UHVXOWVIRUDOLPLWHGSHULRGRIWLPH+RZHYHUWKHWUXHFDXVHVRIUHFHVVLRQRUWKH³RYHUKHDWLQJ´ of the economy are not eliminated. The real sector loses its stimulus to foster innovations and carefully choose investment projects because monetary authorities reduce the cost of money. $VDUHVXOWXQVROYHGSUREOHPVEHJLQWRRFFXUDJDLQDIWHUDZKLOH:KDWLVPRUHVLJQL¿FDQW errors in the forecasting of market behavior are possible since there is a time lag between the HVWDEOLVKPHQWRIDNH\UDWHDQGLWVLPSOHPHQWDWLRQ7KXVWKHGDQJHURIDULVHLQLQÀDWLRQRU
slowdown of economic growth presents itself. Furthermore, open market operations are possible only if a fairly large amount of government securities was issued, which leads to an increase in government debt. All of the above-mentioned negative consequences of DUWL¿FLDONH\UDWHFKDQJHVGHWHULRUDWHWKHHFRQRPLFFRQMXQFWXUHRIWKHFRXQWU\DQGHQJHQGHU various risks.
In all likelihood, instead of targeting interest rate level, authorities should invest money in infrastructure and develop core industries. Interest rates would then fall naturally due to an LQFUHDVHLQUHDOVDYLQJVIURPSUR¿WDEOHSURMHFWV,QMHFWLQJPRQH\LQWRWKHHFRQRP\WKURXJK open market operations does not always lead to the growth of effective production. However, LWXVXDOO\IHHGVVSHFXODWRUVDQGFUHDWHV¿QDQFLDOEXEEOHV.HHSLQJWKLVLQPLQGWKH86$WKH (XUR]RQHWKH8.DQGPDQ\RWKHUFRXQWULHVVKRXOGUHYLVHWKHLUPRQHWDU\SROLF\
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