Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

How Low Interest Rates Impede Recovery, Lester G. Telser

Lester G Telser

A super market and a bank in the money market treat their customers differently. A supermarket stands ready to sell to any customer any amount available of a commodity at a given price without regard to the customer’s credit standing. The credit standing of a potential borrower is paramount to a bank. Whether a bank offers a loan, its size if it does, and the interest rate it asks all depends on its assessment of the credit risk. Keeping interest rates low impedes lending and economic recovery.