The discount rate and the federal funds rate
The discount rate is the interest rate on loans that the Federal Reserve makes to banks. Banks occasionally borrow from the Federal Reserve when they find themselves short on reserves. A lower discount rate_____ banks' incentives to borrow reserves from the Federal Reserve, thereby______ the quantity of reserves in the banking system and causing the money supply to______ .
The federal funds rate is the interest rate that banks charge one another for short-term (typically overnight) loans. When the Federal Reserve uses open-market operations to sell government bonds, the quantity of reserves in the banking system_____ , banks' demand for borrowed reserves______ , and the federal funds rate_____. (fill in the blanks).