According to proponents like Milton Friedman, which policy involves controlling the central bank rate to manage the economy?

Milton Friedman, a prominent economist, advocated for the use of monetary policy as a primary tool for managing the economy. Monetary policy involves the regulation of the money supply and interest rates by a central bank, aiming to influence economic activity, control inflation, and stabilize the currency. Friedman believed that managing the central bank rate, which can be altered to either encourage borrowing and spending or to slow down the economy when it overheats, is crucial for achieving economic stability.

In contrast, fiscal policy refers to government spending and taxation decisions made by legislative bodies, which can affect economic conditions but do not involve controlling central bank rates directly. Trade policy would involve regulations and agreements geared towards international trade, and financial policy is a broader term that may encompass various aspects of economic management but does not specifically focus on the central bank. Thus, monetary policy is the correct answer as it directly pertains to the management of the economy through interest rates and the money supply.