UPSC Prelims 2014·GS1·economy·basic concepts

If the interest rate is decreased in an economy, it will

Dalvoy logo
Reviewed by Dalvoy
UPSC Civil Services preparation
Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. Adecrease the consumption expenditure in the economy
  2. Bincrease the tax collection of the Government
  3. Cincrease the investment expenditure in the economyCorrect
  4. Dincrease the total savings in the economy

Explanation

When the interest rate is decreased in an economy, it makes borrowing cheaper and saving less attractive. Let's analyze the options: A) decrease the consumption expenditure in the economy: This is incorrect. Lower interest rates generally encourage consumption, as borrowing for big-ticket items becomes cheaper and saving yields less return, incentivizing spending. B) increase the tax collection of the Government: This is an indirect and not necessarily direct effect. While increased economic activity due to lower interest rates *could* lead to higher tax collections, it's not the immediate or primary direct impact of a rate decrease. C) increase the investment expenditure in the economy: This is correct. Businesses are more likely to borrow money for new projects, expansion, or capital expenditure when the cost of borrowing (interest rate) is lower. This makes potential investment projects more profitable and attractive, leading to increased investment expenditure. D) increase the total savings in the economy: This is incorrect. Lower interest rates reduce the return on savings, thereby typically discouraging saving and incentivizing consumption or investment instead. Therefore, a decrease in interest rates primarily stimulates investment expenditure.
economy: If the interest rate is decreased in an economy, it will

Related questions

More UPSC Prelims practice from the same subject and topic.