What does monetary policy primarily regulate to stabilize the economy?

Monetary policy primarily regulates the money supply in an economy to achieve macroeconomic objectives such as controlling inflation, managing employment levels, and fostering economic growth. By adjusting the amount of money circulating in the economy, through mechanisms such as interest rates and open market operations, central banks influence borrowing costs, spending, and overall economic activity.

When the central bank increases the money supply, it can lower interest rates, making borrowing cheaper for consumers and businesses, which can stimulate spending and investment. Conversely, reducing the money supply aims to increase interest rates, which can help control inflation by discouraging excessive spending and lending.

This framework of monetary policy is essential for stabilizing the economy and ensuring that it operates at or near its potential output, thereby contributing to overall economic stability. The other choices, such as tax rates, government expenditures, and trade tariffs, are tools of fiscal policy or regulations that do not directly pertain to the central bank's role in managing the money supply.