Abstract
Developing nations are frequently advised to raise administered financial rates above expected inflation rates in stabilization and structural adjustment programmes. In depressed or severely distorted economies, however, market-clearing real financial rates may be non-positive. In such circumstances, attempts to force financial rates above market-clearing levels may impede economic recovery and contribute to industrial and financial-system decapitalization. Moreover, policy-makers may effectively be forced to allow inflation to finance payment of excessively high rates. Where financial rates must be administered, policy-makers should aim to equilibrate financial supply and demand, with a view to maintaining financial-system profitability and safety. Policy-makers should regard sustainable positive real financial rates as indicators of a soundly functioning economy, hence as something to achieve, not to force.

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