Break Quote by Janet Yellen
“Paying interest on reserve balances enables the Fed to break the strong link between the quantity of reserves and the level of the federal funds rate and, in turn, allows the Federal Reserve to control short-term interest rates when reserves are plentiful.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Monetary Policy Remarks, 2023
Charging interest on excess reserves lets the Fed influence short‑term rates even when banks hold abundant cash.
In simple terms: Interest on reserves helps control rates despite plentiful cash.
Key Takeaway
Use reserve interest to manage monetary policy.
Themes
economics
monetary policy
interest rates
central banking
Mood
analytical
technical
Type
explanatory
informative
When to use this quote
- banking sector
- policy formulation
- inflation control
- financial markets
- economic research
Key Concepts
Liquidity management
rate targeting
financial stability
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the limits of using reserve interest?
- How does this affect bank profitability?
A Different Perspective
If reserves are scarce, this tool is less effective.
