<p>What matters for pricing in terms of inflation are <em>expectations</em> of inflation, because inflation is not known at the time of pricing. So, you get the (expected) real rate of the security if you remove these inflation expectations, or, rephrasing your statement, if inflation was expected to be zero.</p>
<p>More generally, the there are at least two definitions of the real rate, depending on the context. In the above example, because inflation is unknown, the expected, or <em>ex-ante</em>, inflation rate is subtracted from the nominal rate. If inflation is known, then actual inflation is subtracted, which then gives the effective, or <em>ex post</em>, real rate.</p>
<p>To summarize:</p>
<p><strong>Real rate (expected or actual) = Nominal rate (expected or actual) - Inflation(expected or actual)</strong>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-08T07:29:18.760Z
Hi,  Isnt the "real interest rate" defined as simply the nominal rate minus inflation?
Mr Africa
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-08T10:09:34.100Z
@MrAfrica: It's just one case. I have edited the answer.
BrsG
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-07T11:14:36.897Z
2021-09-08T10:15:31.490Z
2021-09-08T10:15:31.490Z
BrsG
<p>The real interest rate <span class="math-container">$r$</span> is not observable. However, we can observe the nominal interest rate <span class="math-container">$i$</span> and the inflation rate <span class="math-container">$\pi$</span>. This gives us the Fisher equation:</p>
<p><span class="math-container">$$ r \approx i - \pi .$$</span></p>
<p>Thus, when <span class="math-container">$\pi = 0$</span> (that is, the when there is no inflation), <span class="math-container">$r \approx i$</span> (the real interest rate is the nominal interest rate advertised).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-09T08:51:55.257Z
Actually, *ex ante* the inflation rate is NOT observable. Hence the reference to expectations in the quote of the question.
BrsG
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-08T20:25:41.667Z
2021-09-08T20:25:41.667Z
JD Montgomery
<p>I'm currently reading &quot;Financial Markets and Institutions&quot; by Cornett and Saunders.</p>
<p>On the section on interest rates, the real interest rate is defined as:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A real interest rate is the interest rate that would exist on a
security <strong>if no inflation were expected over the holding period</strong>
(e.g., a year) of a security&quot;.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>What does this mean? Isnt the real interest rate simply the nominal rate minus inflation?
Why is it defined as quoted above? What am I missing?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for helping me understand this wording better.</p>

<interest-rate><nonexpert>
Real interest rate confusing definition
Mr Africa
# Real interest rate confusing definition

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-09-07)

I'm currently reading "Financial Markets and Institutions" by Cornett and Saunders.

On the section on interest rates, the real interest rate is defined as:

> A real interest rate is the interest rate that would exist on a
> security **if no inflation were expected over the holding period**
> (e.g., a year) of a security".

What does this mean? Isnt the real interest rate simply the nominal rate minus inflation?
Why is it defined as quoted above? What am I missing?

Thanks in advance for helping me understand this wording better.

**Tags:** interest-rate, nonexpert

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-09-07. Score: 2

What matters for pricing in terms of inflation are *expectations* of inflation, because inflation is not known at the time of pricing. So, you get the (expected) real rate of the security if you remove these inflation expectations, or, rephrasing your statement, if inflation was expected to be zero.

More generally, the there are at least two definitions of the real rate, depending on the context. In the above example, because inflation is unknown, the expected, or *ex-ante*, inflation rate is subtracted from the nominal rate. If inflation is known, then actual inflation is subtracted, which then gives the effective, or *ex post*, real rate.

To summarize:

**Real rate (expected or actual) = Nominal rate (expected or actual) - Inflation(expected or actual)**.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Hi,  Isnt the "real interest rate" defined as simply the nominal rate minus inflation?  
> **username_1**: @MrAfrica: It's just one case. I have edited the answer.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-09-08. Score: 1

The real interest rate $r$ is not observable. However, we can observe the nominal interest rate $i$ and the inflation rate $\pi$. This gives us the Fisher equation:

$$ r \approx i - \pi .$$

Thus, when $\pi = 0$ (that is, the when there is no inflation), $r \approx i$ (the real interest rate is the nominal interest rate advertised).

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Actually, *ex ante* the inflation rate is NOT observable. Hence the reference to expectations in the quote of the question.  

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