The Federal Reserve Board of Governors has the power to raise or lower short-term interest rates. Between 2005 and 2006, the Fed aggressively increased the benchmark federal funds interest rate from 2.5 percent in February 2005 to 5.25 percent in June 2006, where it remained until July 2007. From July 2007 to December 2008, the Fed rapidly decreased the federal funds rate, where it dropped to 0.16 percent and remained between 0.07 percent and 0.20 percent through November 2015, after which it again began to rise. Assuming that other interest rates also increased and then decreased along with the federal funds rate, what effects do you think those moves had on investment spending in the economy? Explain your answer. What do you think the Fed’s objective was in increasing, and then decreasing, the federal funds rate? When and why might the Fed decide to start raising the federal funds rate?