Final answer:
A high savings rate is not a primary goal of federal economic policy. The primary objectives are stable prices, full employment, and economic growth. Secondary goals include low interest rates, a balanced budget, and a positive trade balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The goal that is not a primary objective of federal economic policy is 'a high savings rate.' While promoting savings can be beneficial for an economy, the three broad economic goals that the federal government primarily strives to achieve are:
- Stable prices, which help maintain the value of money and prevent sharp increases in the cost of goods and services.
- Full employment, which is aimed at providing work for all who are willing and able to work in the labor force.
- Economic growth, which is essential for improving the standard of living and increasing the economy's capacity to produce goods and services.
Secondary economic goals include maintaining low or stable interest rates, a balanced budget, and a positive trade balance. However, these secondary objectives might sometimes conflict with the primary goals. For example, policies aimed at reducing inflation may inadvertently increase unemployment or hinder economic growth. The United States' main tools for pursuing these macroeconomic goals are monetary policy, carried out by the Federal Reserve, and fiscal policy, determined by Congress and the executive branch.