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Free Questions › CFA › Economics
Free CFA Economics Practice Questions & Answers
2,050 exam-style Economics questions. Pick your answer, hit Check answer, and see the worked solution — free to start, no signup.
100% free · No login to startQuestion 781
The central bank’s role in supervising the banking system includes:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Ensuring banks operate safely
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Central banks monitor bank stability and compliance. Wrong: A, C, D: Not central bank roles.
Question 782
A central bank’s foreign reserve management helps it:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Control exchange rates and intervene in markets
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Reserves allow currency stabilization and intervention. Wrong: B, C, D: Not accurate.
Question 783
The policy rate influences long-term interest rates because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Short-term rates affect expectations of future rates
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Long-term rates reflect expected future short-term rates. Wrong: A, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 784
A repo transaction is effectively:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — A secured loan
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Repos involve selling bonds with an agreement to repurchase. Wrong: A, C, D: Not accurate.
Question 785
Commercial banks raise lending rates when the policy rate rises because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — They cannot lend below their own borrowing cost
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Lending below the policy rate would cause losses. Wrong: A, C, D: Not the mechanism.
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Question 786
The central bank can force banks to borrow at the policy rate by:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Creating a shortage of reserves
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Open market operations can drain reserves, forcing banks to borrow. Wrong: A, C, D: Not mechanisms.
Question 787
The central bank’s monopoly over currency issuance means:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — It can influence money supply directly
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Issuing currency allows direct control over monetary conditions. Wrong: A, C, D: Not true.
Question 788
A key objective of monetary policy is to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Maintain price stability
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Price stability is the primary mandate of most central banks. Wrong: A, C, D: Not core objectives.
Question 789
Price stability helps the economy by:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Preserving purchasing power
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Stable prices maintain confidence and economic planning. Wrong: A, C, D: Not effects.
Question 790
Open market purchases by the central bank generally:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Lower interest rates
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Purchases increase reserves, lowering rates. Wrong: A, C, D: Opposite.
Question 791
Open market sales by the central bank generally:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Raise interest rates
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Sales drain reserves, raising rates. Wrong: A, C, D: Opposite.
Question 792
The money multiplier effect depends on:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Banks lending out available reserves
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Lending expands deposits and broad money. Wrong: A: Reduces multiplier. C & D: Not the mechanism.
Question 793
A central bank’s credibility is crucial because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — It influences expectations about inflation
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Credibility anchors inflation expectations. Wrong: A, C, D: Not accurate.
Question 794
A central bank that loses credibility risks:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Higher inflation and unstable expectations
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Loss of trust leads to inflation fears and instability. Wrong: A, C, D: Not typical.
Question 795
The central bank’s role as supervisor of the banking system aims to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Ensure financial stability and soundness
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Supervision ensures banks operate safely and protect depositors. Wrong: A, C, D: Not central bank responsibilities.
Question 796
The discount rate in the United States is:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — The rate member banks pay when borrowing from the Federal Reserve
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: The discount rate is the Fed’s lending rate to member banks. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not definitions of the discount rate.
Question 797
The most important interest rate in US monetary policy is the:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Federal funds rate
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: The fed funds rate is the key interbank overnight lending rate targeted by the FOMC. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Influenced by but not central to policy.
Question 798
The federal funds rate is the rate on:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Overnight interbank reserve lending
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: It is the overnight rate at which banks lend reserves to each other. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Not interbank reserve lending.
Question 799
The FOMC influences the federal funds rate by:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Open market operations
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Buying or selling bonds changes bank reserves and moves the fed funds rate. ✘ Why others wrong: A & C: Fiscal policy. D: Not relevant.
Question 800
When the central bank raises the policy rate, banks are more likely to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Reduce lending
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Higher policy rates increase the penalty for running short of reserves. ✘ Why others wrong: A, C, D: Opposite or unrealistic.
Question 801
Higher policy rates generally cause broad money growth to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Shrink
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Higher rates discourage lending, slowing money creation. Wrong: A, C, D: Not typical.
Question 802
Reserve requirements influence money supply because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Higher reserve requirements reduce banks’ ability to lend
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Higher required reserves reduce the money multiplier. Wrong: B, C, D: Incorrect.
Question 803
Reserve requirements are rarely used in developed economies because:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — They are disruptive to banks
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Sudden changes force banks to halt lending to rebuild reserves. Wrong: A, C, D: Not accurate.
Question 804
The Bank of England no longer uses:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Minimum reserve requirements
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: The UK removed minimum reserve requirements. Wrong: A, C, D: Still used.
Question 805
Reserve requirements remain widely used in:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Emerging market economies
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Emerging markets use them to control lending. Wrong: A, C, D: Not accurate.
Question 806
Central banks manipulate money supply using:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Open market operations, policy rates, and reserve requirements
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: These are the three primary monetary tools. Wrong: A & C: Fiscal tools. D: Only one tool.
Question 807
The overarching goal of monetary policy is usually:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Maintaining price stability
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Price stability is the core mandate of most central banks. Wrong: A, C, D: Not primary goals.
Question 808
The monetary transmission mechanism describes:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — How policy rates affect inflation through the economy
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: It explains how interest rate changes influence demand and inflation. Wrong: A, C, D: Not definitions.
Question 809
A rise in the policy rate tends to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Reduce domestic demand
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: Higher rates reduce borrowing and spending. Wrong: A, C, D: Opposite or unrelated.
Question 810
A stronger currency resulting from higher interest rates tends to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Reduce import prices
Explanation: ✔ Why correct: A stronger currency makes imports cheaper. Wrong: A, C, D: Opposite effects.
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Derivatives and Risk Management131
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