Staff Reports
Federal Reserve Tools for Managing Rates and Reserves
September 2013 Number 642
Revised April 2019
JEL classification: E5, G21

Authors: Antoine Martin, James McAndrews, Ali Palida, and David Skeie

The Federal Reserve announced in January 2019 that it would maintain an ample supply of reserves amid its balance sheet reduction. We model the impact of reserves on banks’ liquidity and balance sheet costs. In competitive general equilibrium, the optimal supply of reserves equates bank deposit rates to the interest rate paid on excess reserves (IOER), consistent with ample reserves. Raising the Fed’s overnight reverse repo rate up to IOER would increase liquidity, expediently reduce the overabundance of reserves, and stabilize the volatility of overnight market rates. Empirical analysis supports our model and can explain recent puzzles in money market rates.

Available only in PDF pdf
Tools
E-mail Alerts
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Statement. You can learn more about how we use cookies by reviewing our Privacy Statement.   Close