Business cycle

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/business-cycle

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the cyclical periodicity?Typically ranges from 2 to 10 years, with varying duration and intensity
2. What is the key indicators monitored?Real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales
3. Why does the economy sometimes go into a recession?A recession happens when many parts of the economy, like jobs and sales, slow down for a long time. This can be caused by less spending or problems in factories.
4. How do people know when a recession starts?Experts look at many clues, such as how fast the economy grows, how many people have jobs, and how much stuff is made and sold. They use these clues to decide if the economy is in a downturn.

Business Cycle: The recurring pattern of expansion and contraction in economic activity over time.
Expansion (Economic): A phase of the business cycle characterized by increasing economic output, employment, and income.
Recession (Economic): A phase of the business cycle characterized by a significant decline in economic activity, often marked by rising unemployment and falling production.
Economic Shocks: Sudden, unexpected events that can significantly disrupt economic activity and influence the business cycle.