Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Investment demand refers to the expenditure by firms on capital goods such as machinery, infrastructure, and technology. This decision is primarily determined by comparing the expected rate of return on the investment (Marginal Efficiency of Capital) against the prevailing market interest rate.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: The interest rate serves as the price or cost of investible funds. If a firm borrows money, the interest rate is the direct cost of borrowing. If a firm uses its own retained earnings, the interest rate represents the opportunity cost (the return the firm sacrifices by investing in the project rather than lending the funds elsewhere).
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Rational firms invest only when the expected return exceeds the cost of capital. When interest rates rise, the cost of borrowing increases, rendering previously profitable projects unviable. Consequently, firms tend to decrease investment to avoid losses, rather than increase it.
- Statement 3 is Correct: There is a fundamental inverse relationship between interest rates and investment demand. Lower interest rates reduce the cost of capital, stimulating higher investment, while higher interest rates dampen investment activity. This relationship is depicted by a downward-sloping investment demand curve.
Key Takeaway:
Investment demand is negatively correlated with interest rates; as the cost of capital (interest rate) rises, the volume of investment in the economy falls.