|
|
VARIABLE INPUT: An input whose quantity can be changed in the time period under consideration. This should be immediately compared and contrasted with fixed input. The most common example of a variable input is labor. A variable input provides the extra inputs that a firm needs to expand short-run production. In contrast, a fixed input, like capital, provides the capacity constraint in production. As larger quantities of a variable input, like labor, are added to a fixed input like capital, the variable input becomes less productive. This is, by the way, the law of diminishing marginal returns.
Visit the GLOSS*arama
|
|
|
|
                           BANK RESERVES: Assets used by banks to back up deposits and to conduct daily transactions, including withdrawing funds, "cashing" checks, and transferring funds between banks to "clear" checks. Reserves, also termed bank reserves or legal reserves, includes two types of assets: vault cash and Federal Reserve deposits. These legal reserves are then divided between require reserves and excess reserves. Required reserves are used to back up deposits and excess reserves are used for loans. Banks in the modern economy practice fractional-reserve banking. They keep a portion of deposits in reserve, usually less than five percent, to facilitate daily business transactions (cashing checks and the like) then use the rest for loans. The two types of assets that are legally used to back up deposits include vault cash and Federal Reserve deposits. Any legal reserves held by banks over and over government requirements are termed excess reserves, which are then used for loans.Two AssetsWhile banks have a number of different assets that could, in principle, be used to as reserves to back bank deposits, two particular assets stand out: vault cash and Federal Reserve deposits.- Vault Cash: This is the paper bills and metal coins that is kept in the bank, that is, in the vault. This cash is used, quite literally, to "cash" checks and otherwise to satisfy currency withdrawal demands of depositors. Note that vault cash is not part of the official M1 money supply because it is held by banks (not the nonbank public) and thus it is not in circulation.
- Federal Reserve Deposits: This is deposits that banks keep with the Federal Reserve System to clear checks and assist in other banking activities. The Federal Reserve System provides banks with a range of banking services, including loans and deposits. Banks are not only required to keep deposits as a means of joining the Federal Reserve System, these deposits are used to process checks through the banking system.
Three CategoriesThe vault cash and Federal Reserve deposits are often divided into three categories: legal, required, and excess.- Legal Reserves: Legal reserves are the TOTAL of vault cash and Federal Reserve deposits. These two assets are the only two assets that satisfy the legal reserve requirements handed down by regulators. And the reason these assets are used to satisfy legal reserve requires is that these are the two assets banks use for daily operations--such as cashing or processing checks or generally satisfying deposit withdrawals. Legal reserves can also be thought of as total reserves.
- Required Reserves: Required reserves are the amount of reserves--vault cash and Federal Reserve deposits--that regulators require banks to keep for daily transactions. Required reserves are specified as a fraction of outstanding deposits--usually about 1 to 3 percent.
- Excess Reserves: Any legal (or total) reserves over and above those required by regulators are excess reserves. These excess reserves are used for loans, which makes them exceedingly important to the banking industry. Because reserves, unlike loans, do not generate interest, add to revenue, or enhance profit, banks are prone to hold as few reserves as possible. Banks hold enough reserves to satisfy reserve requirements, because they are required by law. But they try NOT to hold excess reserves. Holding excess reserves means lost interest revenue.
Loans and MoreBanks tend to do one of two things with these excess reserves. - First, and most important for the study of money and banking, banks use excess reserves for loans. If someone needs a car loan, has good credit, and their local banks has excess reserves, then a little lending business is very likely.
- Second, banks might decide to direct excess reserves into investment securities, like U.S. Treasury securities or Federal Funds. A bank might do this for the liquidity not found with household or business loans, while earning interest that is not possible with reserves.
Recommended Citation:BANK RESERVES, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2025. [Accessed: July 18, 2025].
Check Out These Related Terms... | | | | | | | | |
Or For A Little Background... | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
And For Further Study... | | | | | | | | | |
Related Websites (Will Open in New Window)... | | |
Search Again?
Back to the WEB*pedia
|
|
|
GRAY SKITTERY
[What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time driving to a factory outlet wanting to buy either a coffee cup commemorating yesterday or a replacement remote control for your television. Be on the lookout for a thesaurus filled with typos.
Your Complete Scope
This isn't me! What am I?
|
|
|
During the American Revolution, the price of corn rose 10,000 percent, the price of wheat 14,000 percent, the price of flour 15,000 percent, and the price of beef 33,000 percent.
|
|
|
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses those skills to accomplish his goals. " -- Larry Bird, basketball player
|
|
ITO
International Trade Organization
|
|
|
Tell us what you think about AmosWEB. Like what you see? Have suggestions for improvements? Let us know. Click the User Feedback link.
User Feedback
|
|
