Final answer:
In years where the mortgage interest rate is lower than the rate of inflation, it is generally more advantageous to be a borrower. When the interest rate is higher than inflation, it favors the lender. The specific years in which one position is better than the other cannot be identified without the data from the provided tables.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the relationship between mortgage interest rates and the rate of inflation over various years, it is important to understand that these factors influence the decision of whether it is better to be a borrower or a lender. Generally, if the mortgage interest rate is higher than the rate of inflation, it tends to favor lenders, as the real value of the money they get back increases. On the other hand, if the interest rate is lower than inflation, it benefits borrowers as they are effectively paying back less in real terms due to the decrease in the value of money.
For a borrower, a lower mortgage interest rate compared to inflation means that over time, as inflation erodes the value of money, their repayments become less burdensome in real terms. Conversely, for the bank or lender, a higher interest rate in relation to inflation would be preferable, as it increases the real value of the repayments received over the term of the loan.
Without specific data from the provided tables (Table 6.11, Table 19.11, Table 5.11), the exact years in which it would have been better to be a borrower or a lender cannot be determined. However, the concept remains that comparing mortgage interest rates to the rates of inflation will give insights into the preferable positions for borrowers and lenders in any given year.