Short Term Interest Rates Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Short Term Interest Rates?
Short-term interest rates refer to the borrowing and lending rate that is applicable for a particular period of time, usually ranging from a few days to one year. These rates are determined by the central bank of the country or region and can be adjusted periodically in order to influence economic activity.In general, short-term interest rates tend to be higher than long-term interest rates in order to compensate for their increased riskiness. This is because short-term investments often involve greater uncertainty since they are more prone to market fluctuations. Furthermore, lenders may also charge higher interest due to their reduced liquidity as well as the decreased chances of recovering their principal amounts within a shorter time period. The central banks use these short-term interest rate policies as tools for controlling inflation and economic growth. By raising or lowering these rates, central banks can affect the cost of borrowing money which has an impact on consumer spending, investment activities and overall macroeconomic stability. For example, reducing short-term interest rates could act as an incentive for businesses and individuals to borrow money thus increasing aggregate demand while raising them can reduce inflationary pressure by discouraging overspending and promoting saving activities. In addition, keeping short-term interests low provides businesses with access to cheap financing which makes it easier for them to invest in long term projects such as research & development or expansion plans without worrying about having insufficient funds available during difficult times. As such, it plays an important role in stimulating economic growth while also helping individuals save more money at lower costs which further contributes towards overall financial stability within society. Overall, short-term interests rate policies have significant implications on both macroeconomic and individual level performance since changes in these rates directly affect levels of consumption, savings & investments within an economy thus influencing its overall growth prospects significantly over time.