--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Discount rate-Prime rate and the Subprime rates of interest

What is the difference among the discount rate, prime rate and the subprime rates of interest? Which interest rate in particular build the 2008 recession? Explain how that happened.

E

Expert

Verified

Discount rate refers to that interest rate which would be charged by the Federal bank to the depository institutions for borrowing its reserves. Prime rate refers to that which banks charge the creditworthy customers and is just 3 percentage points over fed funds rate. When the creditworthiness lowers, the interest rate increases. Subprime rates refer to those charged on subprime loans offered to the less creditworthy customers. Both prime and subprime rates are charged on all loans offered by banks and differs based on the creditworthiness of the customer.

Subprime interest rates created the 2008 recession. Sales of single family homes peaked in 2005, with the increase in population as well as the need for home ownership, which resulted in a housing boom leading to rocketing home prices. As the prices surged upwards drastically, homes became more expensive and the subprime interest rates were also high. Subprime loans with adjustable rates, extremely low or no down payments, etc were offered and borrowed with the hope that they can be paid off when the prices escalate more. However, owing to fraudulent transactions, subprime mortgage defaults emerged, which led to the fall in home sales in 2006 which eventually led to the end of price escalation. With the prices much lower than the purchase price, more and more mortgage loans were defaulted, which led to the failure and shutdown of a few well-known banks. Thus this created the 2008 recession

   Related Questions in Macroeconomics

  • Q : Supply law and it's factors State the

    State the Law of supply and explain the factors that affecting supply of commodity

    		•
  • Q : Problem on perfect replacements Imports

    Imports and American cars are much close however not perfect replacements. When the U.S. govt. tried to enhance American car sales by setting a price ceiling of P1 on imported cars: (i) The quantity of cars imported will drop/fall from Q0 to Q1. (ii)

    		•
  • Q : Why businessmen prefer current bank

    Describe why businessmen mostly wish to open current account in bank?

    		•
  • Q : Calculating exchange rate 10 US dollars

    10 US dollars are exchanged for 500 Indian rupees. Calculate the exchange rate for Indian currency? Answer: $1 = 500/10 = Rs.50, that is, $1 = Rs. 50

    		•
  • Q : Sources of demand for foreign currency

    State main sources of demand for foreign currency? Answer: The four main sources of demand for foreign currency are as follows: A) To buy services and goods from other countries. B) To send a gift abroad.

  • Q : Define Devaluation Devaluation means

    Devaluation means decrease in the external value of a country’s currency as an aware policy measure adopted by the Government of a country. In another words, we make our currency less costly in terms of foreign currency. This builds our goods ch

    		•
  • Q : Adaptive expectations & Rational

    Question: Compare and contrast 'adaptive expectations' (Hubbard uses adaptive expectations)  and 'rational expectations' in modeling expectations. Answer:<

    		•
  • Q : About macroeconomics Do you think that

    Do you think that macroeconomic policy should be designed to achieve a measured unemployment rate of zero? Why or why not should this be the case?

    		•
  • Q : Definition of surplus Definition of

    Definition of surplus: It is a condition in which quantity supplied is more than quantity demanded. To remove the surplus, producers will minimize the price till the market reaches to equilibrium.

    		•
  • Q : GDP In calculating the GDP national

    In calculating the GDP national income accountants:

    		•