AP Macroeconomics: Monetary Policy Quiz

Control over the money supply and interest rates by a central bank or monetary authority to stabilize business cycles, reduce unemployment and inflation, and promote economic growth. In the United States monetary policy is undertaken by the Federal Reserve System (the Fed). In principle, Federal Reserve policy makers can use three different tools--open market operations, the discount rate, and reserve requirements--to manipulate the money supply. In practice, however, the primary tool employed is open market operations. An alternative to monetary policy is fiscal policy.