Determining a Central Bank's Long-Run Policy Rate

Suppose the central bank of a large foreign economy sets its policy interest rate at 2.5%. In a stable, long-run equilibrium, financial markets anticipate that the home country's currency will depreciate by 3% annually against the foreign currency. To maintain this equilibrium, what policy interest rate should the home country's central bank set?

Calculating the Equilibrium Policy Rate

In a stable, long-run equilibrium, if a home country's central bank sets its policy interest rate at 7% while a major foreign economy's rate is 4%, financial markets must expect the home currency to appreciate by 3% annually for the equilibrium to be maintained.

In a stable, long-run financial equilibrium, the central bank of Country A sets its policy interest rate at 5.5%, while the central bank of Country B (a major trading partner) maintains its rate at 2.0%. For this equilibrium to hold, financial markets must expect the currency of Country A to depreciate against the currency of Country B by ____% annually.

An economic analyst is examining the long-run financial stability of three small open economies (A, B, and C) relative to a large foreign economy. The foreign economy has a stable policy interest rate of 3.0%. The analyst has gathered the following data for the three small economies:

• Country A: Policy rate is 5.0%; expected annual currency depreciation is 2.5%.
• Country B: Policy rate is 6.5%; expected annual currency depreciation is 3.5%.
• Country C: Policy rate is 2.5%; expected annual currency depreciation is -1.0% (i.e., an appreciation).

Based on this information, which country has set a policy interest rate that is consistent with a stable, long-run equilibrium in international financial markets?

An economist is analyzing four different small, open economies, each assumed to be in a stable, long-run financial equilibrium. For each economy, match the given financial conditions (foreign policy rate and expected annual currency depreciation) with the correct home policy rate required to maintain that equilibrium.

Evaluating a Central Bank's Policy Proposal

Central Bank Policy Dilemma

Assessing Financial Market Disequilibrium