Governments need money to operate, and just like people and businesses, they will borrow money when needed. In this lesson, you’ll learn about government securities.
What Is a Government Security?
A government security is a bond or other type of debt obligation that is issued by a government with a promise of repayment upon the security’s maturity date. Government securities are usually considered low-risk investments because they are backed by the taxing power of a government. In fact, investment in U.S. treasury securities is probably the safest investment that can be made.
Why Are They Issued?
Government securities are usually issued for two different reasons. The primary reason that most government securities are issued is to raise funds for government expenditures. The federal government issues treasury securities to cover shortfalls (deficits) in its annual budget. Additionally, cities will often issue bonds for construction of schools, libraries, stadiums, and other public infrastructure programs.
A central bank of a country, such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, will sell debt securities for another reason: to control the supply of money in an economy. If the Federal Reserve wants to slow the growth rate of money in the economy, it will sell government securities. This means that it is sucking up dollars from the economy and replacing them with government securities, which results in a slowing of the rate of growth in the money supply. Slowing the rate of money’s growth in an economy will help keep inflation under control.
Types of Government Securities
There are many types of government securities. Let’s take a look at them and see how they differ.
Treasury bills are short-term securities issued by the federal government. Their maturity periods range from days to 52 weeks. These securities are sold at a discount rate and will be paid at face value, which is how the investors make their money.
Treasury notes are government securities with maturity periods longer than treasury bills. Their maturity periods can be two, three, four, five, seven, and ten years. Interest is paid every six months.
Treasury bonds are long-term investments with a maturity period of 30 years. Interest is paid every six months.
Treasury inflation protected securities (TIPS) are securities that are protected from inflation. The principal increases, if there is inflation, and decreases, if there is deflation. They have maturities of five, ten, and thirty years. Interest is paid every six months.
savings bonds are low-risk investments that can be purchased for as little as $25. They are protected against the effects of interest.
source:study.com