How Global Loanable Funds Work
Since lenders and borrowers have the freedom to lend and borrow at any country, they both have objectives:
Goal of the Lender (Supplier): is to look for anywhere in the world that has the highest possible interest rate.
Goal of the Borrower (Demand): is to look for anywhere in the world that has the lowest possible interest rate
A country’s loanable funds is associated with the global loanable funds market through net exports.
- If a country’s net exports are positive (>), this means the country is lending to the rest of the world. The country supplies funds to the rest of the world that is less than their national savings.
- If a country’s net exports are negative (<), this means the country is borrowing from the rest of the world. The rest of the world supplies funds to the country, which is greater than their national savings.
Demand & Supply for Global Loanable Funds
Demand Curve for Global Loanable Funds: the sum of the demands of loanable funds in all countries, labelled as .
Supply Curve for Global Loanable Funds: the sum of the supplies of loanable funds in all countries, labelled as .
Note: The intersection of the two curves is where the demand and supply of loanable funds are the same and gives the world equilibrium interest rate.
International Borrowers & Lenders
International Lenders: Suppose a country’s net exports are positive (>), and & are the supply and demand of loanable funds for the country.
If the country is isolated from the world, then the real interest rate would be 3% a year.
If the country is integrated into the global economy, then lenders would want to lend to the rest of the world, rather than their own country due to a higher interest rate. The country faces the supply curve , and the excess supply of loanable funds goes to other countries.
International Borrowers: Suppose a country’s net exports are negative (<), and & are the supply and demand of loanable funds for the country.
If the country is isolated from the world, then the real interest rate would be 5% a year.
If the country is integrated into the global economy, then borrowers would want to borrow from the rest of the world, rather than their own country due to a lower interest rate. The country faces the supply curve , and the shortage supply of loanable funds is made up from borrowing from other countries.