Premium Essay

The Great Depression and the Great Recession

In:

Submitted By akatamban
Words 2113
Pages 9
Abstract
Economic depression is a state of the economy resulting from an extended period of negative economic activity as measured by GDP .The great economic depression of the US from 1929-1939 was one of the worst economic depressions in the world economy. The GDP per capita of the United States fell by a third (Federico 2005). A lot of economic activities went down and so many people suffered. Even though the depression affect the rest of the world, it has been called the great depression of the US because it’s believed that the US suffered more than any other nation and the causes are also attributed to have been started in America.
Many things have been attributed to have caused the great depression among them are bank failure, Stock Market Crash of 1929, Reduction in Purchasing Across the Board, American Economic Policy with Europe, Drought Conditions but many people believe that it’s the American economic policies that really caused the depression and entirely blame the government for that. Some of the effects are increase in unemployment, collapse of banks and increase in the cost of living.
On the other hand the economic recession of 2008 was longest recession since the world war two hence the term great recession. The recession lasted for 18 months from December 2007 to June 2009. Various things have been attributed to have cause the recession among them are irrational excitement in the housing market and low interest rates while some of the effects are increase in unemployment, increase in oil prices, decrease in consumption and investment.
Recessions are declared by the national bureau of economics research (NBER) and according to NBER are defined as ‘‘significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months” but according to John Perkins (2008) recession is any period of two or more quarters of negative

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Great Depression/Great Recession

...The Great Depression of 1929 compared to the Great Recession that Started in 2007 The Great Depression and The Great Recession were similar in some ways, but were different in several ways. There are many differences of opinion in regards to which one was worse, and who sustained the most damage. Some believe when Obama took over is his first year of office, he faced the worst economic situation in January 2009. Although, there are reports that Roosevelt faced a severe economic situation when he took office in February of 1933. Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in February of 1933, in which the country was in the Great Depression that started in 1929. It has been said that the Depression lasted 10 years, and started on a per say, “Black Thursday.” This was when millions of dollars in stock sold in one day. This caused prices to fall 23%, and caused the stock market, “to crash.” This started the downward spiral, with businesses closing, people losing jobs, and then people losing their homes. Farmers lost their farms and unemployment was as high as 25%. People were unable to survive, but when Roosevelt took over he passed several bills to help the economy. The FED implemented the reserves a short time prior to the Depression starting. They followed as some say tight monetary policies. These policies caused the banks to not be able to lend due to the high interest rates. People were unable to afford the higher interest, and this caused the money supply (which keeps the economy...

Words: 802 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Great Depression Vs Great Recession

...The social views and economic policies regarding the standard of living for Americans in the 1920s directly led to the Great Depression, which was extremely similar to the economic policies which led to the Great Recession in modern times. In this paper, I will be comparing and contrasting both of these major events. Firstly, I will be comparing and constrasting economic policies. Secondly, I will be comparing and constrasting social views. Thirdly, as well as lastly, I will be comparing and constrasting consquences. First off, the Great Depression and Great Recession had econonomic policies. The Great Depression had a severely negative impact on society as a whole. According to Better Homes Movement by Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover,...

Words: 637 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Great Recession vs Great Depression

...Great Depression vs Great Recession It’s an exaggeration to believe that the Great recession was even remotely as devastating as the Great Depression. There may be some minuscule similarities, however the differences outweigh are clear. The Great depression lasted a decade while the Great recession’s duration was only 2 years. Unemployment spiked out at 25% during the Great depression and remained in double digits for a decade, whereas throughout the most recent recession unemployment topped off at 9,5%. Also, unlike the Great Depression Americans received government help in the form of unemployment checks, insurance, and food stamps when they were unemployed. Industrial production decreased by 50% during the Great depression, versus 15% during the Great recession. Nine thousand banks close throughout the depression, but only 400 closed through the recession. Times were far more harsh living through the depression than the recession, especially when the government is not helping you. When comparing the two economic downfalls, there aren’t many similarities. Both time periods were preceded by positive economic growth. Prior to the depression the growth rate was 4.4%, and prior to the most recent recession the growth rate was 3.2%. Both eras were followed by much more dependency on the Federal Reserve for times of crisis. When comparing the two economic collapses the Great depression was obviously worse than the Great recession, and the differences were more magnified than...

Words: 291 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Economic Recession Compared To The Great Depression

...The great depression was a very hard situation for many. The Great Depression lasted nearly a decay. Started 1929 and ended 1939, can you believe that? This was the deepest and longest- lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized World. In the United States, the great depression began shortly after the stock market had crashed down in October 1929, which sent many people to panic and wipe out millions of investors. So many people have asked, “How does the current Economic Recession compare to the great depression” well here are some answers. The great depression saw the Federal Reserve do little to ‘save’ their policy actions were limited by a currency backed by precious metal. They say fed knew that money needed...

Words: 342 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Great Depression

...Depression & Recession Have you ever noticed how history seems to repeat itself? Have you ever heard someone say that we study the past to prevent it from happening again? Well if you take a look at history we are repeating it, with the Great Depression right now we are in what is known as the Great Recession, there are some similarities along with differences. The Great Depression sent many Americans into an economic crisis unlike any the county has experienced before. With this downturn it put millions of hardworking people into poverty, and took about a decade for the market and federal government to restore wealth. The Great Recession was the 2nd worst economic situation to happen to the United States, which started with housing market crash. The Great Depression is similar to the current United States economic/ financial situation. In 1929 a worldwide economic depression happened known as the Great Depression which lasted 10 years. In the 20's the United States had a thriving economy people were buying stocks without any worry. On September 3, 1929, the stocks peaked and then started to drop, on October 29, 1929 the stock market had crashed and millions of people have lost some if not all their money in the stocks. With the United States government stock market being the center for all countries all other countries were affected from it as well. Unlike today's economy banks did not have insure deposits so when banks failed all people lost money. With the loss of money...

Words: 872 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Depression

.... The Great Depression was a period of unprecedented decline in economic activity. It is generally agreed to have occurred between 1929 and 1939. Although parts of the economy had begun to recover by 1936, high unemployment persisted until the Second World War. Background To Great Depression: * The 1920s witnessed an economic boom in the US (typified by Ford Motor cars, which made a car within the grasp of ordinary workers for the first time). Industrial output expanded very rapidly.  * Sales were often promoted through buying on credit. However, by early 1929, the steam had gone out of the economy and output was beginning to fall. * The stock market had boomed to record levels. Price to earning ratios were above historical averages. * The US Agricultural sector had been in recession for many more years * The UK economy had been experiencing deflation and high unemployment for much of the 1920s. This was mainly due to the cost of the first world war and attempting to rejoin the Gold standard at a pre world war 1 rate. This meant Sterling was overvalued causing lower exports and slower growth. The US tried to help the UK stay in the gold standard. That meant inflating the US economy, which contributed to the credit boom of the 1920s. Causes of Great Depression Stock Market Crash of October 1929 During September and October a few firms posted disappointing results causing share prices to fall. On October 28th (Black Monday), the decline in prices turned...

Words: 2820 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

The Great Depression

...The Great Depression Thomas Clay Forrest Economics 510 Professor Don Waldron February 6, 2011, 2011 The Great Depression The Great Depression was the deepest, longest and most widespread economic calamity of the twentieth century, and is the most common standard of how far things in the world’s economy can decline. Beginning with the First New Deal, which put into effect a host of relief and recovery measures designed to improve economic conditions and stimulate recovery, myriad other steps were taken to prevent another catastrophe of this magnitude from ever occurring again. Are these measure enough, though, and could the world ever experience another Great Depression? How do the events of the Great Depression era compare to recent economic downturns, including the current deep recession the world is experiencing? This essay will provide answers to these questions and provide an analysis of the causes and events that led to the Great Depression. It will also present the reasons why another Great Depression is unlikely to occur again. Debates vary as to the causes of the Great Depression, with many well-respected economists offering differing opinions to what they believe led to the historic event. British economist John Maynard Keynes felt that the Depression was driven by demand, and in his book the General Theory of Employment Interest and Money, Keynes argued that lower aggregate expenditures in the economy contributed to an enormous...

Words: 1620 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Comparing The Farmer's Response To The Great Depression

...the start of the “Great Depression.” In 2007 the global financial crisis struck which was the start of the “Great Recession.” The two economic crises have many comparisons and contrast during these times. Both crises had high rates of unemployment, falling income, and both had many deals to help bring the rates down. The Great Depression had a great impact on farmers. The deals that were made had a big role in helping the economy. The Great Depression first begin in 1929. We had a population of 88,010,000. The great depression “was a fanatical and industrial slump”. 1,550,000 people were unemployed. During the first three years of the depression...

Words: 493 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Fashion and the Economy

...I. United States of America economic history In order to successfully move forward, we need to look to the past. The country’s economic history is like all history, meaning that it examines and observes the past activities of mankind (Fite 4). The most significant periods in the United States economic history are actually the three centuries before England settled in America. There were four changes happening in Western Europe that have greatly influenced America. Those changes were economic, political, religious, and intellectual (Fite 15). So why were these changes so important? They were the reasons that England decided to explore and expand in the western part of the world. The decision to expand trade and commerce was the most important advancement in the history of economics (Fite 15). From the time that the Virginia colonies were settled in 1609 up until 1890, farming was the most important aspect of the United States economy (Fite 30). Although manufactured products were worth more than products produced on a farm for the first time in 1889, farming was how the majority of Americans made a living (Fite 30). Despite the fact that agriculture dominated in these early years and the industrialization of the colonies was well under developed, “there was a high degree of specialization in the colonial economy” (Fite 63). For example, there were tobacco crops in the southern colonies which were crops that produced money, and in the northern colonies there was international...

Words: 9534 - Pages: 39

Premium Essay

Great Depression and Current Crisis

...American history from 1877: How the Great Depression compare to The Current Economic Recession affecting the US American history from 1877: How the Great Depression compare to The Current Economic Recession affecting the US. Introduction In 1929s, a global depression hit countries with market economies. Despite the fact that the Great Depression was moderately gentle in some nations, it had very severe effects on others, especially the America. In the United States, the great depression went down in history as one of the worst economic crisis, which left a deep-seated situation, leading to joblessness, starvation and homelessness for over a decade in the US. The Great Depression in America also led a great global depression, as typically each industrialized economy including Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, France, and others, was completely destructed. Various economists and the media have often linked the current economic crisis that heightened in 2008 to the great depression which occurred decades ago. Looking at the implications of the great depression and what is happening today, clearly there are several direct similarities between the two economic crises. Through a brief analysis of the two economic scenarios, this paper hence aims to show how they are related. What are the similarities with the current financial crisis? Some of the similarities between today’s economic situation and the Great Depression of 1920s include: High rates of unemployment- Economic forces...

Words: 1216 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Unemployment in the Us

...beginning with October 29th, 1929, the start of the great depression, all the way until modern day. It has been an interesting few weeks and I’m excited to analyze everything that I have discovered. The Great Depression is considered to be the largest and longest lasting crash that the American economy has taken to date. The Great Depression really began during the summer of 1929. That summer American consumer spending began to fall, and this caused unsold product to gather. While this was occurring the prices of stock kept rising, and by October of 1929 the stock prices were unreasonably high. October 24th is known as black Thursday; on this day nearly 13 million shares were trades which scared the people of Wall Street. October 29th 1929 fell on a Tuesday that year. This was the day that the great depression truly started. Almost 16 million shares were traded on this day. It created a panic on Wall Street and soon after millions of investors lost all of their money. The loss of money in circulation caused consumer spending to drop, and this caused the supply of products to drop. Many companies went out of business, and those who didn’t lay off many of their workers. The great depression peaked around 1933. At this time there were around 15 million Americans that were out of work, and almost fifty percent of America’s banks had failed. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first person to really help the great depression. He announced a bank holiday which lasted four days...

Words: 1391 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The Great Depression

...The Great Depression was the worst collapse in the history of American capitalism. Throughout the 1930s, neither the free market nor the federal government was able to get the country working again. The American people endured a full decade of almost unbelievable economic misery. While a much-feared revolution of either Communist or fascist persuasion, thankfully never materialized, Americans flirted with a number of radical alternatives to the status quo. Some of those radical alternatives faded into memory, while others were incorporated into the New Deal, where a few remain with us even today. The Great Depression plunged the American people into an economic crisis unlike any endured in this country before or since. The worst and longest downturn in our economic history threw millions of hardworking individuals into poverty, and for more than a decade neither the free market nor the federal government was able to restore prosperity. The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in 1930 and lasted until the late 1930s or middle 1940s. It was the longest, most widespread, and deepest depression of the 20th century. In the 21st century, the Great Depression is commonly used as an example of how far the world's economy can decline. The depression originated in the U.S., after the fall in stock prices that began around September...

Words: 3648 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

How Did Economists Get It so Wrong Abstract

...everything so wrong? This question is a great question to ask and if you ask the author of the article that was published on the New York Times in September 2, 2009, Mr. Paul Krugman. His response would be that is the economist own fault and problem to why in 2008 the economy fail and we went on a recession. The reason to why he says that it is the economist own fault to why we went on recession was that the economist thought that they had figured out the perfect economy policy due to their research and mathematical formulas that made them think that they had solved the mystery of a perfect non recession economy. So what I mean is that in a way they thought there research and thoughts were bullet proof of recessions and even worse another great depression. Furthermore, in this article Paul goes into deep detail to why economists are the way they are and also if they would ever change their beliefs in the future. However Paul does mention in this article that there are very few economist that did predict that a recession would happen in the future, but due to the fact of hoe cocky economist were with their formula an research that they actually laughed at the these few economist, but at it is said whoever laughs last laughs better. Article Background In this article Paul gives a total description of how we reached our recession in 2008 and he starts giving out details from the history of economy and how the first great depression happened in the 1930’s. Paul explains...

Words: 793 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Recession

...The History of Recessions in the U.S. Instructor: P, Created by: Brandon April 8, 2014 Throughout history the United States has gone through many economic ups and downs and has tried to create new procedures to ensure that the same problem does not occur again. In this presentation we are going to look at some of the recessions that the country has endured, how these recessions happened, when, and how the government attempted to correct the problem. While there are many different opinions on how to correct and prevent these recessions from happening we are going to look at the facts that lead to these crisis’ in the U.S. economy. The financial press often states the definition of a recession as two consecutive quarters of decline in real GDP. NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research) states that a recession is a period between a peak and a trough, which does not necessarily always consist of two consecutive quarters of decline in real GDP but a significant decline in economic activity that spreads across the economy and can last from a few months to more than a year. [1] The first recession we are going to explore is The Great Depression which many say started as a recession. Although the economy began to decline in the middle of 1929 and continued to fall until the first few months of 1933, Black Tuesday, (October 29, 1929) was the day the stock market crashed and what many people affiliate to the beginning of the Great Depression. Stock prices plummeted...

Words: 1889 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

America During The Great Depression

...Tragedies that happen in America are influential on the rest of the world. The shockwaves of the Great Depression were not only felt in America, but all across the world. Without the Great Depression, many nations would not have learned what not to do during a time of crisis. The most influential aspects of the Great Recession are unemployment, drought and mass migration. The actions that occurred during the Dust Bowl and the Great Recession are still seen influencing America. The vast amount of unemployment that occurred during the 1930’s was one of the most significant ways the Great Depression influenced America. As the amount of manufactured goods began to go down after the recession, so did the number of jobs, “the response was to lay off workers, [cut paychecks and] reduce production.” (Text...

Words: 794 - Pages: 4