Similarities and Differences of the Great Depression as Compared to Today's Financial Crisis

The panic of 1907 and the Great Recession of 2007-2009 has both been major economic events in the United States economic history. This paper compares and contrasts these two major events and enables us to understand importance of certain financial institutions and regulations during troubled times in the financial sector. In this paper, both panics of 1907 and 2007 are historically analyzed and compared.

The Great Depression was a severe economic slump down that took place between 1929 and 1939 (Sauert, 2010). Observers reckon that this historical event was the longest, demeaning, and most widespread recession. The resultant widespread economic hardship hit Europe, North America, and other industrialized economies (Olson, 2001). Also, in the 21st century, the international community has experienced yet another crisis, the Global Financial Crisis, which the observers of the global economic fora have similarly compared and contrasted with the Great Depression. The Global Financial Crisis offered itself as a case scenario that epitomes how deep the economy of the world can decline to abysmal levels.

The unemployment rate skyrocketed from 5.3% in 1929 to 37.6% in 1933 (Document 4). Many families who were middle class dropped to lower class status. Many were living paycheck to paycheck to support themselves and their families. But there was also a small percent of Americans whose lives didn’t change because of this crash, maybe even improved. This was the small 2% of the high class Americans who were able to afford luxury items.

In the year 1929, after a century of Americans being filled with a great sense of being alive and chasing after the American dream with new opportunities in front of them, everything Americans had worked so hard to establish came crashing down. On one fateful day the stock market crashed, leaving Americans all over the nation scared, penny less, and uncertain feelings about what the future would hold for them. The days leading up to years following this crash became known as the Great Depression a time where Americans struggled to get by or even had to leave the only home they’ve ever had when it comes to the dust bowl. The Great Depression posed a great hold on American economy leaving people unemployed and immigrants

The world has encountered two major economic slumps since World War I. The Great Depression was the longest financial crisis witnessed by the modern world. It started at around October 29th, 1929 and lasted up to the beginning of the Second World War in 1939 (Temin 301). The great depression was by far the worst and longest economic crisis ever recorded in modern history, until towards the end of 2007. The next economic crisis that would be comparable to the Great Depression occurred in the late 2000s, precisely between December 2007 and June 2009 (Roberts 1). It would be popularly referred to as the Great Recession. The Great Depression and the Great Recession were undoubtedly similar in multiple ways. This paper aims at comparing these two great economic crises by highlighting their similarities. This paper answers the question ‘How similar were the failures of the financial markets during the great depression

James Tobin had once stated, “The miserable failures of capitalist economies in the Great Depression were root causes of worldwide social and political disasters” (James Tobin Quotes). America has yet to face the dark ages of failing economy when the stock market crashed in the days of October 1929. From a child to a dying old man, everyone’s lifestyles were changed dramatically by the events of this period, the Great Depression. The Great Depression resulted from a combination of both domestic and worldwide conditions. The depression had afflicted every inch it passed by. Every nation, especially the United States, now have to find a way out.

When we look back through history we can find many opportunities to learn the lessons of economic theory but The Great Depression is a particularly relevant historical event when discussing economics. It is a defining event in the history of America as politics and economics intertwined, transforming the role of the federal government in the economy. Due to the length, severity and global effects an entire decade is known as the Great Depression. Theories continue to be debated on how or why the Depression took place and the reasons for its eventual end however, what most will agree on is that “The Great Depression (1929-39) was the deepest and longest-lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized world” (History.com Staff, 2009).

While There Are Many Similarities Such As Bank Crisis’s, High Unemployment Rates And The Great Loss Of Consumer Confidence, There Are Still Great Differences Such As, Today’s Government Seems To Have Quicker When A Rescission Starts, And The Fact That The Great Depression Ended Because Of WWII, If Debt Can End By War, How Come The National Debt Is Not Paid Off Yet, I Wonder?

The Great Depression was a harsh global economic depression in the decade prior World War II. The Great Depression, while it happened far before the “Great Recession” of 2008, it can be greatly compared. During the Great Depression, all income, tax revenue, and prices dropped. International trade decreased by more than 50%, and U.S. unemployment climbed to just above 25%. Industrial cities like Detroit and Pittsburgh took the heaviest hits. While the recession of 2008 was not as drastic, it affected the world economy and resulted in a global recession more so than ever before. The percent of U.S. citizens unemployed had reached 10% as of 2009. Along with the challenges unemployment presented, consumer

In the 1920s, American economy had a great time. The vast majority of Americans in 1929 foresaw a continuation of the dizzying economic growth that had taken place in most of the decade. However, the prices of stock crested in early September of 1929. The price of stock fell gradually during most of September and early October. On “Black Tuesday” 29 October 1929, the stock market fell by forty points. After that, a historically great and long economic depression started and lasted until the start of the Second World War. The three causes of the Great Depression are installment buying, uneven distribution of wealth and the irrational behavior in the stock market.

Many people speculate that the stock market crash of 1929 was the main cause of The Great Depression. In fact, The Great Depression was caused by a series of factors, and the effects of the depression were felt for many years after the stock market crash of 1929. By looking at the stock market crash of 1929, bank failures, reduction of purchasing, American economic policy with Europe, and drought conditions, it becomes apparent that The Great Depression was caused by more than just the stock market crash. The effects were detrimental beyond the financial crisis experienced during this time period.

America’s Great Depression is believed as having begun in 1929 with the Stock Market crash, and ending in 1941 with America’s entry into World War II. In order to fully comprehend the repercussions and devastating effects of the Crash of 1929, it is important to examine the factors that contributed to the catastrophic event which led to The Great Depression. The Great Depression was the worst economic slump in U.S. history, and it spread to most of the industrialized world. Many factors played a role in bringing about the depression; however, the main cause for the Great Depression was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the 1920s, and the

In America there have been great economic struggles and triumphs. The many great leaders of this country have foraged, failed, and overcome some very difficult times. Comparing the Great Depression of 1929 and the Great Recession of 2008 has revealed similarities that by learning from our mistakes in 1929 could have prevented the latest recession. I will discuss the causes of the Great Depression and the Great Recession, and what policies were implemented to reverse the economic downfalls.

The Great Depression is a defining moment in time for not only American, but world history. This was a time that caused political, economical, and social unrest. Not only did the Great Depression cause a world wide panic, it also caused a world wide crisis unlike any before it. This paper will analyze both the causes and the effects of the Great Depression in the United States of America.

The year 2008 saw a repeat of the great Depression of the 1930’s characterized largely by volatility in stock prices caused by the sub prime mortgage disaster. The aftermath saw Multi national companies crumbling and billionaires turning to paupers overnight . None of the Major economies from America, China, Japan, Germany and France were immune