Business Cycle Phases
Stages of the Business Cycle
In the diagram above, the straight line in the middle is the steady growth line. The business cycle moves about the line. Below is a more detailed description of each stage in the business cycle:
#1 Expansion
The first stage in the business cycle is expansion. In this stage, there is an increase in positive economic indicators such as employment, income, output, wages, profits, demand, and supply of goods and services. Debtors are generally paying their debts on time, the velocity of the money supply is high, and investment is high. This process continues until economic conditions become favorable for expansion.
#2 Peak
The economy then reaches a saturation point, or peak, which is the second stage of the business cycle. The maximum limit of growth is attained. The economic indicators do not grow further and are at their highest. Prices are at their peak. This stage marks the reversal in the trend of economic growth. Consumers tend to restructure their budget at this point.
#3 Recession
The recession is the stage that follows the peak phase. The demand for goods and services starts declining rapidly and steadily in this phase. Producers do not notice the decrease in demand instantly and go on producing, which creates a situation of excess supply in the market. Prices tend to fall. All positive economic indicators such as income, output, wages, etc. consequently start to fall.
#4 Depression
There is a commensurate rise in unemployment. The growth in the economy continues to decline, and as this falls below the steady growth line, the stage is called depression.
#5 Trough
In the depression stage, the economy’s growth rate becomes negative. There is further decline until the prices of factors, as well as the demand and supply of goods and services, reach their lowest. The economy eventually reaches the trough. This is the lowest it can go. It is the negative saturation point for an economy. There is extensive depletion of national income and expenditure.
#6 Recovery
After this stage, the economy comes to the stage of recovery. In this phase, there is a turnaround from the trough and the economy starts recovering from the negative growth rate. Demand starts to pick up due to the lowest prices and consequently, supply starts reacting, too. The economy develops a positive attitude towards investment and employment and hence, production starts increasing.
Stages of the Business Cycle
In the diagram above, the straight line in the middle is the steady growth line. The business cycle moves about the line. Below is a more detailed description of each stage in the business cycle:
#1 Expansion
The first stage in the business cycle is expansion. In this stage, there is an increase in positive economic indicators such as employment, income, output, wages, profits, demand, and supply of goods and services. Debtors are generally paying their debts on time, the velocity of the money supply is high, and investment is high. This process continues until economic conditions become favorable for expansion.
#2 Peak
The economy then reaches a saturation point, or peak, which is the second stage of the business cycle. The maximum limit of growth is attained. The economic indicators do not grow further and are at their highest. Prices are at their peak. This stage marks the reversal in the trend of economic growth. Consumers tend to restructure their budget at this point.
#3 Recession
The recession is the stage that follows the peak phase. The demand for goods and services starts declining rapidly and steadily in this phase. Producers do not notice the decrease in demand instantly and go on producing, which creates a situation of excess supply in the market. Prices tend to fall. All positive economic indicators such as income, output, wages, etc. consequently start to fall.
#4 Depression
There is a commensurate rise in unemployment. The growth in the economy continues to decline, and as this falls below the steady growth line, the stage is called depression.
#5 Trough
In the depression stage, the economy’s growth rate becomes negative. There is further decline until the prices of factors, as well as the demand and supply of goods and services, reach their lowest. The economy eventually reaches the trough. This is the lowest it can go. It is the negative saturation point for an economy. There is extensive depletion of national income and expenditure.
#6 Recovery
After this stage, the economy comes to the stage of recovery. In this phase, there is a turnaround from the trough and the economy starts recovering from the negative growth rate. Demand starts to pick up due to the lowest prices and consequently, supply starts reacting, too. The economy develops a positive attitude towards investment and employment and hence, production starts increasing.
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