Economic Policy Objectives
Reserve Bank Objectives
What are the economic objectives, under the Reserve Bank Act 1959?
Under the Reserve Bank Act 1959, the RBA has the three economic objectives:
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Stability of the Currency
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Maintenance of Full Employment
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Ensuring the economic prosperity of the welfare of the people of the Australia
Interpretation of the RBA Objectives
Stability of the Currency
Stability of the Currency does not mean fixing the exchange rate. Stability of the currency refers to ensuring prices are stable and the people have confidence in the currency. For example, the RBA should not print too much money as this would result in hyperinflation and distrust of the currency, likewise what was seen in Zimbabwe.
Maintenance of Full Employment
Ensuring the cash rate adjusts to ensure the unemployment is near natural levels, somewhere near 5%.
Ensuring the Economic Prosperity of the Welfare of the People of Australia
This one is the more open ended one. Usually it means ensuring a sustainable rate of economic growth that expands the real incomes for Australians in the long term. Ensuring the economic prosperity can also mean protecting the economy from any potential recessions (such as a potential housing bubble).
Economic prosperity also means ensuring that the economy remains internationally competitive and the labour force remains productive.