Question

In January, the interest rate is 5 percent and firms borrow $50 billion per month for investment projects. In February, the federal government doubles its monthly borrowing from $25 billion to $50 billion. That drives the interest rate up to 7 percent. As a result, firms cut back their borrowing to only $30 billion per month. Which of the following is true?

Answer 1

A crowding out effect just happened. The term crowding out effects is used to describe the negative effects of increasing government spending over private sectors of the economy.

In this case, since the government borrowed an extra $25 billion, the private sector's debt reduced by $20 since the interest rate increased.