Money, Banking, and the Federal Reserve
Aligned to C3.D2.Eco.3 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Money works as a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account that lets people trade without bartering. Banks take in deposits and lend most of them out, which expands the money supply through the banking system. The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States and conducts monetary policy by adjusting interest rates and the money supply to influence inflation and employment.
Worked example
During the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve cut its target interest rate to near zero to make borrowing cheaper and encourage spending and lending.
Practice questions
- List the three main functions of money.
- Explain how banks increase the money supply when they lend out deposits.
- Analyze why the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates when inflation is high.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Dinero, banca y la Reserva Federal
El dinero funciona como medio de intercambio, depósito de valor y unidad de cuenta que permite a las personas comerciar sin trueque. Los bancos reciben depósitos y prestan la mayor parte de ellos, lo que amplía la oferta monetaria a través del sistema bancario. La Reserva Federal es el banco central de Estados Unidos y aplica la política monetaria ajustando las tasas de interés y la oferta monetaria para influir en la inflación y el empleo.
Ejemplo: Durante la crisis financiera de 2008, la Reserva Federal bajó su tasa de interés objetivo casi a cero para abaratar los préstamos y fomentar el gasto y el crédito.
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