Some debate over which one was worse is in the critics mouths, however no one can undermine the severity and impact each had on the country, and the world. During the stock market crash of 1929, the height of unemployment shot to a crazy 25%. The 2008 recession, also coined the term "The Great Recession" displayed unemployment at 10% at its peak, which is still a huge amount of people without jobs or anyway to support themselves or their family. This caused the economy to slow down in both the depression and the recession which then in turn had a domino effect that lowered demand, which then led to even more people being laid off.
Both the depression and the recession were very scary events that pointed out the consequences of all of the events leading up to each. The biggest difference between the two would be how the government responded. During the 1929 crash, the federal government did not make any bold moves and even made policies stricter, which did not help matters improve. During the 2008 recession, they reacted differently and enacted many bailouts of huge companies and banks, and in 2009 the stimulus package also had a positive impact on the economy, even though it might have been small it was still a step in the right direction. Overall, both economic disasters had their fare share of differences, but both enforced the notion that the economy is a complex system that can turn from good to sour in the blink of an eye.
*Source: http://www.ketv.com/money/2008-worse-than-the-great-depression/27757236
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