Reflation

Reflation is an economic policy that seeks to stimulate an economy by increasing the money supply and encouraging borrowing and spending. It is the opposite of deflation, which is a decrease in the money supply and a decrease in borrowing and spending. Reflation is often used to combat economic downturns, such as recessions, and to stimulate economic growth. Reflation is typically implemented by central banks, such as the Federal Reserve in the United States, through a variety of methods, such as lowering interest rates, increasing the money supply, and purchasing government bonds.

History of Reflation

The term “reflation” was first used in the early 20th century by British economist John Maynard Keynes. Keynes believed that governments should intervene in the economy to stimulate growth and prevent recessions. He argued that governments should increase the money supply and reduce interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending. This policy of increasing the money supply and encouraging borrowing and spending is now known as reflation.

Since the early 20th century, reflation has been used by governments around the world to stimulate economic growth. In the United States, the Federal Reserve has used reflationary policies to combat recessions since the Great Depression. In 2008, the Federal Reserve implemented a series of reflationary policies, such as lowering interest rates and increasing the money supply, to combat the effects of the Great Recession.

Comparison of Reflation and Deflation

Summary

Reflation is an economic policy that seeks to stimulate an economy by increasing the money supply and encouraging borrowing and spending. It is the opposite of deflation, which is a decrease in the money supply and a decrease in borrowing and spending. Reflation is often used to combat economic downturns, such as recessions, and to stimulate economic growth. For more information about reflation, visit the websites of the Federal Reserve, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.

See Also

• Monetary Policy
• Fiscal Policy
• Inflation
• Deflation
• Quantitative Easing
• Interest Rates
• Money Supply
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• Balance of Payments
• Exchange Rates

Do you like the post? Share it now: