Top 4 causes of the Great Depression
mike
1. Stock Market Crash of 1929
Many believe erroneously that the stock market crash that occurred on
Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929 is one and the same with the Great
Depression. In fact, it was one of the major causes that led to the
Great Depression. Two months after the original crash in October,
stockholders had lost more than $40 billion dollars. Even though the
stock market began to regain some of its losses, by the end of 1930, it
just was not enough and America truly entered what is called the Great
Depression.
2. Bank Failures
Throughout the 1930s over 9,000 banks failed. Bank deposits were
uninsured and thus as banks failed people simply lost their savings.
Surviving banks, unsure of the economic situation and concerned for
their own survival, stopped being as willing to create new loans. This
exasperated the situation leading to less and less expenditures.
3. Reduction in Purchasing Across the Board
With the stock market crash and the fears of further economic woes,
individuals from all classes stopped purchasing items. This then led to
a reduction in the number of items produced and thus a reduction in the
workforce. As people lost their jobs, they were unable to keep up with
paying for items they had bought through installment plans and their
items were repossessed. More and more inventory began to accumulate. The
unemployment rate rose above 25% which meant, of course, even less
spending to help alleviate the economic situation.
4. American Economic Policy with Europe
As businesses began failing, the government created the Hawley-Smoot
Tariff in 1930 to help protect American companies. This charged a high
tax for imports thereby leading to less trade between America and
foreign countries along with some economic retaliation.
Any similarities?
Neil Gerace
>
> 4. American Economic Policy with Europe
> As businesses began failing, the government created the Hawley-Smoot
> Tariff in 1930 to help protect American companies. This charged a high
> tax for imports thereby leading to less trade between America and
> foreign countries along with some economic retaliation.
"In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the effects of the... Anyone?
Anyone? ...the Great Depression, passed the... Anyone? Anyone? The tariff bill? The Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act? Which,
anyone? Raised or lowered? ...raised tariffs, in an effort to collect more revenue for the federal government. Did it
work? Anyone? Anyone know the effects? It did not work, and the United States sank deeper into the Great Depression.
Today we have a similar debate over this. Anyone know what this is? Class? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone seen this before? The
Laffer Curve. Anyone know what this says? It says that at *this* point on the revenue curve, you will get exactly the
same amount of revenue as at *this* point. This is very controversial. Does anyone know what Vice-President Bush called
this in 1980? Anyone? Something-d-o-o economics. 'Voodoo' economics."
-- Ben Stein (economist-turned-actor) in _Ferris Bueller's Day Off_
Mike Lepore
the cause
of all economic recessions and cyclical crises is: under capitalism, the
workers, who
produce all of society's wealth, ever get paid sufficient wages to buy back
their own
products.
"mike" <mi...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:48e27776$0$5503$9a56...@news.aliant.net...
tc4...@glcomets.net
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