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💰AP Macroeconomics Unit 4 Vocabulary

109 essential vocabulary terms and definitions for Unit 4 – Financial Sector

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💰Unit 4 – Financial Sector
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💰Unit 4 – Financial Sector

4.1 Financial Assets 💰

TermDefinition
bond priceThe market value of a bond at any given time, which fluctuates inversely with changes in interest rates.
bondsInterest-bearing financial assets that represent a loan to a borrower, typically a government or corporation.
cashPhysical currency in the form of bills and coins, representing the most liquid form of money.
demand depositsBank deposits that can be withdrawn on demand without penalty, such as checking accounts.
financial assetsClaims on future income or assets that can be held as stores of value, including money, bonds, and stocks.
interest ratesThe cost of borrowing money, influenced by monetary policy and affecting exchange rates through changes in currency demand.
liquidityThe ease with which a financial asset can be quickly converted into cash without significant loss of value.
opportunity costThe value of the next best alternative that must be given up when making a choice.
previously issued bondsBonds that were sold in the past and are now trading in the secondary market at prices that may differ from their original issue price.
rate of returnThe gain or loss on a financial asset, typically expressed as a percentage of the initial investment over a specific time period.
riskThe uncertainty or potential for loss associated with holding a financial asset.
stocksEquity financial assets that represent ownership shares in a corporation.

4.2 Nominal vs. Real Interest Rates

TermDefinition
expected inflationThe anticipated rate of increase in the general price level that lenders and borrowers use when determining nominal interest rates.
expected real interest rateThe anticipated return on a loan adjusted for expected inflation, used by lenders and borrowers to establish nominal interest rates.
inflationA sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over time.
nominal interest rateThe stated interest rate on a loan or investment, not adjusted for inflation.
real interest rateThe interest rate adjusted for inflation, reflecting the true purchasing power gained or lost from lending or borrowing.

4.3 Definition, Measurement, and Functions of Money

TermDefinition
bank reservesMoney held by banks that is not loaned out, including reserves required by the Federal Reserve and excess reserves.
currency in circulationPhysical money (coins and paper bills) that is in use by the public and businesses.
M1A monetary aggregate that includes the most liquid forms of money, such as currency in circulation and checking accounts.
M2A monetary aggregate that includes M1 plus less liquid assets such as savings accounts and money market accounts.
measures of moneyQuantitative calculations used to determine the money supply, including monetary aggregates such as M1 and M2.
medium of exchangeA function of money that allows it to be used to purchase goods and services.
monetary aggregatesDifferent measures of the money supply, including M1 and M2, that categorize money based on liquidity.
monetary baseThe total amount of money created by a central bank, consisting of currency in circulation and bank reserves.
moneyAny asset that is accepted as a means of payment for goods and services.
money supplyThe total amount of money available in an economy at a given time, including currency in circulation and deposits in financial institutions.
store of valueA function of money that allows it to be saved and used to purchase goods and services in the future.
unit of accountA function of money that provides a standard measure for comparing the value of different goods and services.

4.4 Banking and the Expansion of the Money Supply

TermDefinition
balance sheetsFinancial statements that show a bank's assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time, used to analyze the effects of banking system changes.
bank reservesMoney held by banks that is not loaned out, including reserves required by the Federal Reserve and excess reserves.
banking systemThe network of financial institutions, including commercial banks and central banks, that facilitate the creation and circulation of money in an economy.
depository institutionsFinancial institutions such as commercial banks that accept deposits from the public and use those funds to make loans.
excess reservesReserves held by banks beyond the required minimum, which can be loaned out to expand the money supply.
fractional reserve bankingA banking system in which depository institutions hold only a fraction of their deposits in reserve and lend out the remainder.
monetary baseThe total amount of money created by a central bank, consisting of currency in circulation and bank reserves.
money multiplierThe factor by which the money supply increases relative to an increase in the monetary base through the lending activities of commercial banks.
money supplyThe total amount of money available in an economy at a given time, including currency in circulation and deposits in financial institutions.
money supply expansionThe process by which the banking system increases the total amount of money in circulation through lending based on excess reserves.
required reserve ratioThe percentage of deposits that commercial banks are required to hold in reserve rather than lend out, used as a monetary policy tool.
required reservesThe minimum amount of reserves that depository institutions are legally required to hold, determined by the required reserve ratio.

4.5 The Money Market

TermDefinition
central bankA financial institution responsible for implementing monetary policy and managing a country's money supply and banking system.
demand for moneyThe quantity of money that individuals and businesses want to hold at different interest rates and price levels.
disequilibriumA market condition in which the quantity supplied does not equal the quantity demanded, causing imbalances that create surpluses or shortages.
equilibriumA market condition in which the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded at a particular price, with no tendency for change.
equilibrium nominal interest rateThe interest rate at which the quantity of money demanded equals the quantity of money supplied in the money market.
market forcesThe supply and demand pressures that drive prices toward equilibrium in response to surpluses and shortages.
monetary baseThe total amount of money created by a central bank, consisting of currency in circulation and bank reserves.
monetary policyCentral bank actions that influence the money supply, interest rates, aggregate demand, real output, price level, and exchange rates.
money marketThe market where money supply and money demand interact to determine the equilibrium nominal interest rate.
money supplyThe total amount of money available in an economy at a given time, including currency in circulation and deposits in financial institutions.
nominal interest rateThe stated interest rate on a loan or investment, not adjusted for inflation.
price levelThe average of all prices of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured by price indices like the CPI.
quantity demanded of moneyThe amount of money that individuals and businesses wish to hold at a given nominal interest rate.
supply of moneyThe total quantity of money available in an economy, controlled by the central bank through monetary policy.
surplusesA situation in the money market where the quantity of money supplied exceeds the quantity of money demanded at a given nominal interest rate.

4.6 Monetary Policy

TermDefinition
AD-AS modelAn economic model that shows the relationship between aggregate demand and aggregate supply to illustrate macroeconomic equilibrium and the effects of policy changes.
adjustment lagThe time it takes for the economy to respond and adjust to a monetary policy action after it has been implemented.
aggregate demandThe total quantity of goods and services demanded across an entire economy at different price levels.
central bankA financial institution responsible for implementing monetary policy and managing a country's money supply and banking system.
contractionary monetary policyCentral bank actions that decrease the money supply and raise interest rates to reduce inflation and cool down an overheating economy.
discount rateThe interest rate at which a central bank lends to commercial banks, used as a tool of monetary policy.
expansionary monetary policyCentral bank actions that increase the money supply and lower interest rates to stimulate economic growth and reduce unemployment.
federal funds rateThe interest rate at which commercial banks lend reserve balances to each other overnight, targeted by the Federal Reserve as its primary policy rate.
full employmentAn economic condition where all available labor resources are being used efficiently and unemployment is at its natural rate.
inflationary output gapA positive output gap occurring when actual real output exceeds the full-employment level of output, putting upward pressure on prices.
interest on reservesThe interest rate paid by a central bank to commercial banks on the reserves they hold, used as a monetary policy tool.
lagsDelays between the time a policy action is taken and when its effects are fully realized in the economy.
monetary baseThe total amount of money created by a central bank, consisting of currency in circulation and bank reserves.
monetary policyCentral bank actions that influence the money supply, interest rates, aggregate demand, real output, price level, and exchange rates.
money market modelAn economic model that shows the relationship between the money supply, money demand, and interest rates.
money multiplierThe factor by which the money supply increases relative to an increase in the monetary base through the lending activities of commercial banks.
nominal interest rateThe stated interest rate on a loan or investment, not adjusted for inflation.
open market operationsThe buying and selling of government securities by a central bank to influence the money supply and monetary base.
policy rateThe target interest rate set by a central bank for overnight interbank lending to influence overall monetary conditions.
price levelThe average of all prices of goods and services produced in an economy, typically measured by price indices like the CPI.
price stabilityA macroeconomic goal in which the general price level of goods and services remains relatively constant over time.
real outputThe total production of goods and services in an economy adjusted for inflation, measured in constant dollars.
recognition lagThe time it takes for policymakers to identify and recognize that a problem exists in the economy.
required reserve ratioThe percentage of deposits that commercial banks are required to hold in reserve rather than lend out, used as a monetary policy tool.
reserve market modelAn economic model that illustrates the relationship between the supply and demand for bank reserves and the federal funds rate.

4.7 The Loanable Funds Market

TermDefinition
borrowersIndividuals or entities that demand loanable funds by taking loans in the loanable funds market.
closed economyAn economy that does not engage in international borrowing, lending, or trade with other countries.
demand for loanable fundsThe quantity of loanable funds that borrowers are willing to borrow at various real interest rates, showing an inverse relationship with real interest rates.
determinants of demandFactors that influence and cause changes in the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at various price levels.
determinants of supplyFactors that influence the quantity of goods and services producers are willing and able to supply at various price levels.
disequilibriumA market condition in which the quantity supplied does not equal the quantity demanded, causing imbalances that create surpluses or shortages.
equilibriumA market condition in which the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded at a particular price, with no tendency for change.
equilibrium interest rateThe interest rate at which the quantity of loanable funds demanded equals the quantity supplied.
equilibrium quantity of fundsThe amount of loanable funds exchanged when the quantity demanded equals the quantity supplied.
government borrowingWhen a government borrows money, typically by issuing bonds, to finance a budget deficit.
government spendingGovernment expenditures that can affect the demand for loanable funds and interest rates.
investment tax creditA tax incentive that reduces taxes on business investment, increasing the demand for loanable funds.
loanable funds marketThe market where savers supply funds available for borrowing and borrowers demand funds, with the real interest rate serving as the price.
market forcesThe supply and demand pressures that drive prices toward equilibrium in response to surpluses and shortages.
national savingsThe total amount of income in an economy that is not spent on consumption, consisting of public savings and private savings in a closed economy.
net capital inflowThe net flow of foreign investment into a country, representing the difference between foreign investment in the domestic economy and domestic investment abroad.
open economyAn economy that engages in international trade and allows the free flow of goods, services, and financial capital across borders.
private savingsThe portion of household and business income that is not spent on consumption.
public savingsThe portion of government tax revenue that is not spent on government consumption and transfer payments.
quantity demanded of loanable fundsThe amount of funds that borrowers wish to borrow at a given real interest rate in the loanable funds market.
quantity supplied of loanable fundsThe amount of funds that savers are willing to lend at a given real interest rate in the loanable funds market.
real interest rateThe interest rate adjusted for inflation, reflecting the true purchasing power gained or lost from lending or borrowing.
saversIndividuals or entities that supply loanable funds by lending money in the loanable funds market.
saving behaviorThe decisions households and businesses make about how much income to save versus spend, which affects the supply of loanable funds.
shortageA situation in which the quantity demanded of a good exceeds the quantity supplied at a given price, resulting in insufficient supply to meet consumer demand.
supply of loanable fundsThe quantity of loanable funds that savers are willing to lend at various real interest rates, showing a positive relationship with real interest rates.
surplusA situation in which the quantity supplied of a good exceeds the quantity demanded at a given price, resulting in excess inventory in the market.
taxesGovernment revenues that affect disposable income and the supply of loanable funds available for borrowing.