The Business Cycle

MK, U 23

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PRONUNCIATION

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The Business Cycle the recurring and fluctuating levels of economic activity that an economy experiences over a long period of time (www.investopedia.com)

Recur – come again, happen againFluctuate – change ,vary, oscillateOutput - production

PRONUNCIATION

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The Business Cycle

→ MK, p 114

Lead-in discussion

Vocabulary 1

Divide into two groups

downturn peak downswing

contraction trough upturn

expansion recession recovery

depression slump boom

economic ______ vs. economic ______

• contraction• depression / slump• trough• recession• downturn /downswing

• upturn• boom• expansion• peak• recovery

Match the opposites, pls!

economic decline vs. economic growth

• depression / slump• recession• downturn /downswing• contraction• trough

• boom• recovery• upturn• expansion• peak

Viewing/listeninghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMHkiKxtlvw

Make notes to capture the most important information:

•“a backwards rollercoaster”

•3 indicators of recession by NBER

•definition of recession

•4 phases

•economic trends in recession

•V-shaped recession v. U-shaped recession

•NBER = National Bureau of Economic Research•3 indicators of recession by NBER:

– GDP = gross domestic product– employment– wholesale – retail trade

•definition of recession:– 2 or more consequtive quarters of negative economic

growth•4 phases:

– Peak– Recession– Trough– Expansion (recovery)

• economic trends in recession:– Consumer spending slows– Inventories build up– Companies reduce output and layoff employees– Unemployment rises

• economic trends during a recovery– Activity accelerates– Consumer spending improves– New orders are placed– Companies increase output and add employees– Unemployment declines

Collocations: recession v. expansion

• economic activity slows down• consumers spend less money• businesses make fewer sales• inventories build up• companies earn less revenue• fewer orders are placed• businesses cut back on output• unemployment rate goes up• businesses reduce the number

of people on payrolls• eventually it reaches a trough

• economic activity picks up again

• sales improve• excess inventories are

used up• new orders are placed• production is ramped up

again• job opportunities improve• unemployment rate

comes down• eventually it tops out

Collocations: recession or expansion?

• economic activity picks up again

• businesses make fewer sales• excess inventories are used

up• companies earn less revenue• new orders are placed• production is ramped up again• job opportunities improve

• businesses cut back on output

• unemployment rate goes up

• eventually* it reaches a trough.

• eventually it tops out

• consumers spend less money

• sales improve

* at an unspecified later time, in the end

Collocations: recession or expansion?

• E: economic activity picks up again

• R: businesses make fewer sales

• E: excess inventories are used up

• R: companies earn less revenue

• E: new orders are placed• E: production is ramped up

again• E: job opportunities improve

• R: businesses cut back on output

• R: unemployment rate goes up

• R: eventually* it reaches a trough.

• E: eventually it tops out

• R: consumers spend less money

• E: sales improve

* at an unspecified later time, in the end

• begins abruptly• reaches a trough

quickly • recovers quickly

• slowdown lingers*• takes a long time for

activity to pick up again

* to remain existent although often waning in strength, importance, or influence

V-SHAPED OR U-SHAPED RECESSION?

• begins abruptly• reaches a trough

quickly • recovers quickly

• slowdown lingers*• takes a long time for

activity to pick up again

* to remain existent although often waning in strength, importance, or influence

V-SHAPED OR U-SHAPED RECESSION?

v U

READING (MK, p. 114,115)

1. What happens to GDP in a business cycle?2. What happens during an upturn? (What tends to rise?)3. What is a boom?4. What happens during a downturn? (What falls?)5. What is the difference between a recession and a

depression? (Synonyms?)6. What is the most probable cause of the business

cycle?7. How do people behave in good times? And in bad

times?8. How is investment connected with demand? 9. What is creative destruction?

Team work: Comprehension

Causes of the business cycle: internal & externalHow is internal theory different from external theory?

• Internal (endogenous) theories:beliefs about the future

interest rateswages and salaries

↓consumption (demand = output)

↓investments (grow)

• External (exogenous) theories: technological, political and demographic changes

Why are economies plagued by recurrent business cycles?  

You might want to read what Kitson says about Keynsianism:

(Listening 1 & 2, p 117, script p 174)

HOMEWORK

Reading 2, MK pp 117, 118:

Keynesianism and Monetarism

- do vocabulary 2: Fiscal and monetary policy, p 116

- read and allocate headings (A – E)

- match up the half-sentences (p 118)

Discussion: answer the questions to prepare for discussing Keynesianism & Monetarism