Why Awareness of the Coming Great Depression Is Vital for Success in the 2030s (2024)

ITR Economics has been talking about the coming 2030s Great Depression since the 2014 release of our book “Prosperity in the Age of Decline.” Now, 10 years later, many people are still unaware of the challenges the next decade will bring.

Many will be caught off guard by the coming depression. If they do not have plans in place, individuals and their businesses will face serious trouble in the 2030s. Here are just a few of the key reasons why being aware of the upcoming Great Depression will be vital for your success in navigating it.

You Will Not Get Caught in the Moment

Following the mild recession we are forecasting for 2024, there will be good economic times ahead for the rest of the 2020s. In this time of economic growth, many will get caught up in simply enjoying the ride up, like an escalator that never ends. But the economy is more like a rollercoaster; there is always a peak and a trough in the business cycle.

It is human nature to live in the moment, but business leaders who go along as if the good times are here to stay are going to be hit harder in the 2030s. This could lead to troubled times for their employees as well.

It is important to note that in times of economic decline, the inverse of the above can also happen. As companies navigate through a recession or depression, CEOs and executives can develop a gloomy outlook for the future and feel depressed, which can bring down the morale of all their employees.

By looking at our forecasts, seeing the future, and knowing what is ahead, you can put plans in place to capitalize on the economic growth in this decade. You can make effective plans to operate throughout the depression and build a strategy to capitalize on the opportunities that will follow the depression. You will not be caught off guard at any stage.

You Will Not Fall for the Recovery ‘Fake-Outs’

ITR Economics is projecting that the next Great Depression will begin in 2030 and last well into 2036. However, we do not expect a simple, completely downward trend throughout those years. There will be signs of slight growth that pop up during this period. Many will mistake these for the onset of a sustained recovery, only to be crushed by the false hope.

These false signals could be demoralizing for anyone. To get your hopes up due to false signs and to then have those hopes dashed could open you up to negative thinking. This attitude could impact the team behind your business and ultimately lead to a collective despair – an underlying belief that the depression will never end. With such a mindset, you will be too focused on the negative and miss out on the opportunities that will come down the line.

By knowing the timeline that ITR Economics is forecasting for the 2030s, you will know what the real signs of recovery are so you can have a sound strategy to deploy when the economic recovery begins.

[ Further Reading: What Will the World Look Like After the 2030s Great Depression? ]

You Will Stay Optimistic Throughout the Depression

Even with plans in place, the 2030s will not be a walk in the park. It will be a difficult time for many, with or without a strategy in place. However, with successful planning, it will be easier to stay optimistic throughout the 2030s, as you will know when the bad times will end. In addition, you will be positioned to focus on markets that will still rise, or at least decline relatively less severely, during the downturn.

As a business leader, you will need to have a strong plan in place and communicate and reinforce that plan to your team as often as necessary. At the same time, you will need to remain flexible and communicate any adjustments that have to be made.

By maintaining a communicative and optimistic spirit throughout the depression, you will benefit your team immensely; employees feed off the energy and confidence of their leadership.

Helping businesses plan for the future and navigate the economic ups and downs is what ITR Economics does best. Preparing for the 2030s Great Depression starts with a full awareness of what the next decade will bring. If this is the first time you are hearing about the next economic depression, reach out to us to see how we can help you prepare yourself, your family, and your business.

Why Awareness of the Coming Great Depression Is Vital for Success in the 2030s (2024)

FAQs

Why is it important to understand the Great Depression? ›

Further, the Great Depression shows the important roles that money, banks and the stock market play in our economy. A third reason to study the Great Depression is that it dramatically changed the role of government, especially the federal government, in our nation's economy.

Is there a Great Depression coming in 2030? ›

You Will Not Fall for the Recovery 'Fake-Outs' ITR Economics is projecting that the next Great Depression will begin in 2030 and last well into 2036. However, we do not expect a simple, completely downward trend throughout those years. There will be signs of slight growth that pop up during this period.

Why should the Great Depression be remembered? ›

The Great Depression is often called a “defining moment” in the twentieth-century history of the United States. Its most lasting effect was a transformation of the role of the federal government in the economy.

Why is the Great Depression the most important event in history? ›

The Great Depression of the thirties remains the most important economic event in American history. It caused enormous hardship for tens of millions of people and the failure of a large fraction of the nation's banks, businesses, and farms.

How does the Great Depression impact US today? ›

Psychologists and sociologists have noted that the effects of depression-era hardships can shape the behavior of people for the rest of their lives, impacting activities ranging from saving money to job preferences, food conservation, and even birth rates.

What is the most important lesson from the Great Depression? ›

One of the most important lessons to take away from the Depression is that anything can happen, and it's always a good idea to plan ahead.

What will happen in 2030 in the world? ›

By 2030 the average person in the U.S. will have 4.5 packages a week delivered with flying drones. They will travel 40% of the time in a driverless car, use a 3D printer to print hyper-individualized meals, and will spend most of their leisure time on an activity that hasn't been invented yet.

What will the economy look like in 2030? ›

Average potential global economic growth will slump to a three-decade low of 2.2 percent per year through 2030, the World Bank warns. Low investment will also slow growth in developing economies, the World Bank says in a report.

What will cause the next Great Depression? ›

In 1929, the collapse of our economy stemmed from the stock market crash, bank failures and misguided government policy — the Great Depression followed. Today, the biggest threat to our economy is our nation's debt crisis.

What are 3 important details about the Great Depression? ›

The worldwide economic downturn known as the Great Depression began in 1929 and lasted until about 1939. It caused steep declines in output, severe unemployment, and acute deflation and led to extreme human suffering and profound changes in economic policy.

What good came out of the Great Depression? ›

Television and nylon stockings were invented. Refrigerators and washing machines turned into mass-market products. Railroads became faster and roads smoother and wider.

Did anyone benefit from the Great Depression? ›

Not everyone, however, lost money during the worst economic downturn in American history. Business titans such as William Boeing and Walter Chrysler actually grew their fortunes during the Great Depression.

Why is it important to study about the Great Depression? ›

It was among the worst economic periods in American history, its causes are still debated, and it is useful for teaching and learning–especially in economics and history.

Which cause of the Great Depression had the greatest impact? ›

The stock market crash of 1929.

Once prices began their inevitable decline in October 1929, millions of overextended shareholders fell into a panic and rushed to liquidate their holdings, exacerbating the decline and engendering further panic. Between September and November, stock prices fell 33 percent.

How did the Great Depression change American society? ›

The unemployment rate rose higher and remained higher longer than in any other western country. As it deepened, the Depression had far-reaching political consequences. The Depression vastly expanded the scope and scale of the federal government and created the modern welfare state.

Why should the Great Depression be taught in schools? ›

The Great Depression, in particular, is an event that provides the opportunity to teach and learn a great deal about economics—whether you're studying the economic reasons that the Depres- sion took place, the factors that helped it come to an end or the impact on Americans who lived through it.

What do you think was the most significant effect of the Great Depression? ›

The most devastating impact of the Great Depression was human suffering. In a short period of time, world output and standards of living dropped precipitously. As much as one-fourth of the labor force in industrialized countries was unable to find work in the early 1930s.

What is the main idea in the Great Depression? ›

The Great Depression describes the long period of economic downturn that took place after the stock market crash of 1929. This period led to high unemployment rates, lowered stock values, and reduced levels of demand for production materials.

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