Business Cycle

Business Cycle
Is the economy getting better or

worse?
Micro vs. Macro
• Microeconomics: The study of personal, or
small finances.
– Individuals, families or businesses
• Macroeconomics: The study of economic

systems on a large scale
– National or Global economies
Gross Domestic Product
• Def. The total value, in dollars, of all final
goods and services produced within the
nation each year
• Abbreviated as the GDP

What does the GDP tell us?
• If the GDP is larger than last year the
economy is expanding (getting bigger)
• If the GDP is smaller, the economy is
shrinking (getting smaller)
Business Cycle
• The Business Cycle allows people to
understand the direction the economy
(GDP) is going (growing or shrinking) and
plan accordingly.
• The economy follows the Business Cycle

regularly.
Phases of the Business Cycle
Expansion (Growing)
Peak (Top)
Contraction (Shrinking)
Trough (Bottom)
Business Cycle
Peak
Peak
Co
Co
ion
n
tra
n
n
s
io
an
tra
ct
ns
io
p
cti
pa
n
Ex
Ex
n
Trough
Expansion
• During a period of expansion:
– Wages increase
– Low unemployment
– People are optimistic and spending money
– High demand for goods
– Businesses start
– Easy to get a bank loan
– Businesses make profits and stock prices
increase
Peak
• When the economic cycle peaks:
– The economy stops growing (reached the top)
– GDP reaches maximum
– Businesses can’t produce any more or hire
more people
– Cycle begins to contract
Contraction
• During a period of contraction:
– Businesses cut back production and layoff
people
– Unemployment increases
– Number of jobs decline
– People are pessimistic (negative) and stop
spending money
– Banks stop lending money
Trough
• When the economic cycle reaches a
trough:
– Economy “bottoms-out” (reaches lowest point)
– High unemployment and low spending
– Stock prices drop
But, when we hit bottom, no where to go but

up!
UNLESS….
Recession/Depression
• A prolonged contraction is called a
recession (contraction for over 6 months)
• A recession of more than one year is

called a depression
What keeps the Business Cycle
Going?
• 4 variables cause changes in the
Business Cycle:
1. Business Investment
When the economy is expanding, sales and
profit keep rising, so companies invest in
new plants and equipment, creating new
jobs and more expansion. In contraction, the
opposite is true
What Keeps the Business Cycle
Going?
2. Interest Rates and Credit
Low interest rates, companies make new
investments, adding jobs. When interest
rates climb, investment dries up and less job
growth
3. Consumer Expectations
Forecasts of an expanding economy fuels more
spending, while fear of a recession
decreases consumer spending
What keeps the Business Cycle
Going?
4. External Shocks
External Shocks, such as disruptions of the oil
supply, wars, or natural disasters greatly
influence the output of the economy
Ex. 1992-2000 was the longest period of

expansion in U.S. history. Early in 2001,
signs of contraction appeared, though the
Bush administration denied it. The Sept. 11 th
2001 terrorist attacks quickly caused the
business cycle to shift into a contraction.
Who Cares?????
• Why should you care about the business
cycle and economy?
• Lots of reasons!
“Don’t quit that job!”
• If the economy is going into a contraction,
jobs will become more scarce. If you quit,
you may not find another job!
• But, if the economy is in a period of

expansion, jobs are readily available. It
may be a good time to switch careers.
“Should I make a big purchase?”
• Only if you know that you won’t lose your
job in a contraction. So, buy your house
during an expansion.
HOWEVER,
• When the economy starts to slow down
(contraction), interest rates will decrease.
Wait to buy a house until the rates drop to
a low point, if you are sure you won’t lose
your job.
Quick Review!
• What phase of the business cycle do
wages go up?
• Expansion
• What phase of the business cycle do

wages go down?
• Contraction
Review cont.
• When are wages at their highest?
• Peak
• When are wages at their lowest?

• Trough
More Review
• When will borrowing decrease?
• Contraction
• When will borrowing increase?

• Expansion
• When will borrowing be at it’s lowest?

• Trough
Even More Review!
• When will unemployment be at its lowest?
• Peak
• When will business profits be the highest?

• Peak
• When should you look for a new job?

• Expansion

Business Cycle

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Business Cycle

Is the economy getting better or

• Macroeconomics: The study of economic

• Abbreviated as the GDP

• The economy follows the Business Cycle

But, when we hit bottom, no where to go but

• A recession of more than one year is

Ex. 1992-2000 was the longest period of

• But, if the economy is in a period of

• What phase of the business cycle do

• When are wages at their lowest?

• When will borrowing increase?

• When will borrowing be at it’s lowest?

• When will business profits be the highest?

• When should you look for a new job?

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