Read the passage excerpt below on macroeconomic policy:
"During periods of rapid economic expansion, central monetary authorities often face the delicate task of sustaining growth while averting inflationary spirals. When benchmark interest rates are adjusted upward, the primary policy objective is not to halt capital investment altogether, but to temper domestic demand to a level aligned with long-term productive capacity. By moderating the pace of credit expansion, regulators seek to prevent asset bubbles without inducing a sudden contraction in employment. Critics argue that aggressive monetary tightening risks disproportionately penalizing small-scale enterprises; however, proponents maintain that a calibrated policy stance acts as a stabilizing mechanism. Ultimately, the effectiveness of such interventions hinges on market expectations and the central bank's commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline across economic cycles."
Based on the passage, what is the precise contextual meaning of the word temper as used in the text?
- ATo heat and cool a material to increase its structural hardness
- BTo completely prohibit and eliminate capital investment
- To moderate or soften the intensity of domestic demandCevap
- DTo raise benchmark interest rates to unprecedented historical levels