--%>

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 : Evaluation of net present value Explain

    Explain evaluation of net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) in brief?

  • Q : Opportunity costs of consumption

    Individuals maximize the satisfaction whenever the marginal utilities of all goods are: (i) Precisely proportional to the consumer’s income. (ii) Maximized. (iii) Precisely proportional to the opportunity costs of consuming them. (iv) Equivalent

  • Q : Explain Shut Down Price Explain the

    Explain the term Shut Down Price? Illustrate it.

  • Q : The market system 1. Examples of

    1. Examples of command economies are: A. The United States and Japan. B. Sweden and Norway. C. Mexico and Brazil. D. Cuba and North Korea.

  • Q : Value of imports of goods The country’s

    The country’s balance of trade is Rs.500 crores. The value of exports of goods is Rs. 650 crores. What is the value of imports of goods?

  • Q : Implications of fiscal deficit

    Implications of fiscal deficit: (A) High fiscal deficit entails a big amount of borrowings in which the government takes more loans to pay back it. It raises the liability of government.

    Q : From the heterodox approach From the

    From the heterodox approach, what options does the enterprise have to produce more output? What impact do these options have on its cost structure?

  • Q : Fiscal measures to accurate

    Describe the fiscal measures to accurate the condition of deficient demand and excess demand. Answer: Fiscal measures are the government’s budgetary policy th

  • Q : Why tax considered as revenue receipt

    Why is tax considered as revenue receipt? Answer: Since tax neither makes a liability for government nor decreases assets of the government.

  • 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.