Business Cycle
Business Cycles
√ The term business cycle refers to the recurrent ups and downs in the level of economic activity, which extend over several years.
√ Individual business cycles may vary greatly in duration and intensity. √ All display a set of phases.
THE BUSINESS CYCLE
Phases of the Business Cycle
RECESSION
TROUGH
RECOVERY
Level of business activity
PEAK
Time
Level of business activity
PEAK
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Time
√ Peak or prosperity phase:
Real output in the economy is at a high level
Employment is high
Domestic output may be at its capacity
Inflation may be high.
High level of effective demand.
Rising interest rates
Level of business activity
RECESSION
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Time
√ Contraction or recession phase:
Real output is decreasing
Unemployment rate is rising.
As contraction continues, inflation pressure fades.
If the recession is prolonged, price may decline (deflation)
The government determinant for a recession is two consecutive quarters of declining output.
Level of business activity
TROUGH
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T
Time
√ Trough or depression phase:
Lowest point of real GDP
Output and employment “bottom out”
This phase may be shortlived or prolonged
There is no precise decline in output at which a serious recession becomes a depression.
Level of business activity
RECOVERY
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Time
√ Expansionary or recovery:
Real output in the economy is increasing
Unemployment rate is declining
The upswing part of the cycle.
Causes of Fluctuations
Innovation
Political events
Random events
Wars
Level of consumer spending
Seasonal fluctuations
Cyclical Impacts — durable and non durable
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