Nine facts about the Great Recession and tools for fighting the next downturn | Brookings (2024)

Research

Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach,

Ryan Nunn,

Nine facts about the Great Recession and tools for fighting the next downturn | Brookings (2)

Ryan Nunn Assistant Vice President for Applied Research in Community Development - Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis @ryandnunn

Lauren Bauer, David Boddy, and Greg Nantz

GN

Greg Nantz Senior Research Assistant & Publications Coordinator, The Hamilton Project

May 23, 2016

Nine facts about the Great Recession and tools for fighting the next downturn | Brookings (4)
  • 1 min read


Between December 2007 and June 2009 the United States experienced the most severe recession in the postwar period. The over 4 percent decline in gross domestic product (GDP) was only reversed more than three years after the beginning of the recession. During the worst part of the Great Recession, virtually every segment of the U.S. economy was adversely affected. Employment losses were severe, but also unevenly distributed: men, the young, and the less educated suffered disproportionately in the recession’s aftermath.

Related Content

Related Books

More On

Nine facts about the Great Recession and tools for fighting the next downturn | Brookings (2024)

FAQs

What are the tools for fighting recession? ›

Fiscal policy is enacted by a country's government through spending and taxes to influence a nation's economic conditions. To help fight a recession, fiscal policy may aim to lower taxes and increase federal spending to increase aggregate demand.

What were the 3 most significant effects of the recession of 2008? ›

The most severe economic downturn since World War II occurred between December 2007 and June 2009. During this period, hundreds of banks failed, millions of homes went into foreclosure, and Americans lost over $14 trillion in net worth. Unemployment levels swelled from 5% in 2007 to 10% in 2009.

What were 3 effects of the recession? ›

Factors that cause a recession include high interest rates, reduced consumer confidence, and reduced real wages. Effects of a recession include a slump in the stock market, an increase in unemployment, and increases in the national debt.

How was the Great Recession solved? ›

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was a major vehicle for such fiscal stimulus, authorizing spending on infrastructure, health care, and education; expanding automatic stabilizers; and making various tax cuts.

What tools do we use to predict recession? ›

If you're worried about the onset of a recession, here are some of the signs you should look out for.
  • Volatility Index (VIX): ...
  • GDP Contraction. ...
  • Low Industrial Output and sales. ...
  • Growing unemployment rate or Sahm Recession Indicator. ...
  • Inverted Yield Curve.

Should I take my money out of the bank before a recession? ›

Banking regulation has changed over the last 100 years to provide more protection to consumers. You can keep money in a bank account during a recession and it will be safe through FDIC and NCUA deposit insurance.

How does the Great Recession impact us today? ›

In all the countries affected by the Great Recession, recovery was slow and uneven, and the broader social consequences of the downturn—including, in the United States, lower fertility rates, historically high levels of student debt, and diminished job prospects among young adults—were expected to linger for many years ...

What three factors led to the Great Recession? ›

The major causes of the initial subprime mortgage crisis and the following recession include lax lending standards contributing to the real-estate bubbles that have since burst; U.S. government housing policies; and limited regulation of non-depository financial institutions.

What was the worst recession in history? ›

In the United States, the Great Recession was a severe financial crisis combined with a deep recession. While the recession officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009, it took many years for the economy to recover to pre-crisis levels of employment and output.

Do things get cheaper in a recession? ›

While the prices of individual items may behave unpredictably due to unexpected economic factors, it is true that a recession might cause the prices of some items to fall. Because a recession means people usually have less disposable income, the demand for many items decreases, causing them to get cheaper.

What are the pros and cons of a recession? ›

Recessions have plenty of negative consequences, but they can provide a necessary reset for the markets. Higher interest rates that often coincide with the early stages of a recession provide an advantage to savers, while lower interest rates moving out of a recession can benefit homebuyers.

Who suffers the most in a recession? ›

We find that the impacts of the Great Recession are not uniform across demographic groups and have been felt most strongly for men, black and Hispanic workers, youth, and low-education workers.

Who went to jail for the Great Recession? ›

Did Anyone Go to Jail for the 2008 Financial Crisis? Kareem Serageldin was the only banker in the United States who was sentenced to jail time for his role in the 2008 financial crisis. He was convicted of hiding losses by mismarking bond prices.

What saved the Great Recession? ›

The End of the Great Recession

In February 2009, under new President Barack Obama, Congress passed the $789 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which helped bring about an end to the economic recession.

Are we in a recession in 2024? ›

Economists predict another year of slow growth around the world in 2024. While the risk of a global recession is lower in the year ahead, two G7 economies dipped into recession at the end of 2023.

What tools are used to stimulate the economy during a recession? ›

During a recession, fiscal and monetary policies are used to stimulate the economy. Tools of fiscal policy include increasing government spending and reducing taxes, while tools of monetary policy include lowering interest rates and increasing the money supply.

What does the government do to combat recession? ›

Fiscal Policy

When the country is in a recession, the appropriate policy is to increase spending, reduce taxes, or both. Such expansionary actions will put more money in the hands of businesses and consumers, encouraging businesses to expand and consumers to buy more goods and services.

How to prepare for a 2024 recession? ›

How to prepare yourself for a recession
  1. Reassess your budget every month. ...
  2. Contribute more toward your emergency fund. ...
  3. Focus on paying off high-interest debt accounts. ...
  4. Keep up with your usual contributions. ...
  5. Evaluate your investment choices. ...
  6. Build up skills on your resume. ...
  7. Brainstorm innovative ways to make extra cash.
Feb 22, 2024

What counters a recession? ›

Expansionary Fiscal Policy. Expansionary fiscal policy increases the level of aggregate demand, through either increases in government spending or reductions in taxes.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Moshe Kshlerin

Last Updated:

Views: 5985

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Moshe Kshlerin

Birthday: 1994-01-25

Address: Suite 609 315 Lupita Unions, Ronnieburgh, MI 62697

Phone: +2424755286529

Job: District Education Designer

Hobby: Yoga, Gunsmithing, Singing, 3D printing, Nordic skating, Soapmaking, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Moshe Kshlerin, I am a gleaming, attractive, outstanding, pleasant, delightful, outstanding, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.