The L-shaped recovery refers to an economy that declines steeply and then flatlines with weak or no growth. On a graph plotting GDP against time, this precipitous fall combined with a long period of stagnation looks like the letter “L”. The L-shaped recovery is sometimes called an L-shaped recession because the economy does not return to trend line growth. The L-shaped recovery, therefore, is a recession shape used by economists to describe different types of recessions and their subsequent recoveries. In an L-shaped recovery, the economy is characterized by a severe recession with high unemployment and near-zero economic growth.
Aspect | Explanation |
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Definition | An L-shaped recovery is an economic scenario in which a significant economic downturn, often marked by a sharp decline in economic activity, is followed by a slow and prolonged period of recovery characterized by stagnant or very slow growth. In this scenario, the economy does not experience a quick bounce back to pre-recession levels, as seen in V-shaped recoveries, but rather follows a flat or “L” shaped trajectory, indicating a prolonged period of economic weakness. L-shaped recoveries are typically the result of deep and systemic economic challenges, such as financial crises or structural economic imbalances. |
Key Concepts | – Economic Downturn: An initial period of severe economic decline, often caused by external shocks or internal imbalances. – Slow Recovery: The distinguishing feature is the slow pace of recovery that follows the downturn. – Persistent Weakness: The economy remains below its potential for an extended period, with limited growth. – Structural Issues: L-shaped recoveries are often associated with underlying structural problems in the economy. – Lack of Quick Rebound: Unlike V-shaped recoveries, there is no rapid rebound to pre-recession levels of economic activity. |
Characteristics | – Long Duration: L-shaped recoveries are characterized by a prolonged period of economic weakness that can last for years. – High Unemployment: Unemployment rates may remain elevated for an extended period. – Weak Consumer and Business Confidence: Confidence in the economy may be low, leading to reduced consumer spending and business investment. – Limited Credit Availability: Banks may be cautious about lending, limiting access to credit for businesses and individuals. – Policy Intervention: Governments and central banks often implement stimulus measures to try to hasten the recovery. |
Implications | – Job Market Challenges: Persistent high unemployment or underemployment can have significant social and economic consequences. – Income Inequality: Economic weakness can exacerbate income inequality as the most vulnerable segments of the population are often hit hardest. – Budgetary Pressures: Governments may face challenges in maintaining public services and managing budget deficits. – Reduced Investment: Businesses may postpone capital investments, impacting long-term economic growth. – Public Policy Response: Policymakers may need to implement targeted policies to address the underlying causes of the prolonged downturn. |
Advantages | L-shaped recoveries are generally not considered advantageous, as they represent a challenging economic scenario with limited growth opportunities. However, some potential benefits may include a more cautious approach to economic policies and a focus on addressing structural weaknesses in the economy for long-term sustainability. |
Drawbacks | – Protracted Economic Weakness: The most significant drawback is the extended period of economic stagnation, which can result in widespread economic hardship. – High Unemployment: Elevated unemployment rates can lead to social and political instability. – Policy Challenges: Policymakers face the challenge of implementing effective measures to jumpstart the economy. – Uncertainty: Prolonged economic weakness can create uncertainty for businesses and investors. – Budget Deficits: Government budget deficits may increase as a result of reduced tax revenue and increased social support spending. |
Applications | L-shaped recoveries are a concept used by economists, policymakers, and financial analysts to assess and predict economic trends and challenges. It informs discussions around economic policy, including the need for stimulus measures and structural reforms. Additionally, businesses and investors closely monitor economic conditions to adapt their strategies to the prevailing economic environment during an L-shaped recovery. |
Use Cases | – Great Recession (2007-2009): The global financial crisis led to an L-shaped recovery in many economies, characterized by a long period of slow growth and high unemployment. – Japan’s Lost Decades: Japan experienced a prolonged L-shaped recovery following its asset price bubble burst in the early 1990s. The economy struggled with deflation and stagnant growth. – Eurozone Debt Crisis: Several European countries, including Greece and Spain, faced L-shaped recoveries after the Eurozone debt crisis, with slow growth and austerity measures impacting their economies. – COVID-19 Pandemic: The pandemic-induced economic downturn in 2020 led to concerns about the potential for an L-shaped recovery due to the virus’s ongoing impact, but recovery patterns have varied by region and sector. – Oil Price Crash (1980s): The collapse of oil prices in the 1980s led to an L-shaped recovery in oil-dependent economies, such as those in the Middle East. |
Understanding an L-shaped recovery
The most important characteristic of an L-shaped recovery is a failure for the economy to revert to full employment after a recession.
Controlling forces such as the government do not allocate enough resources to mobilize workers and increase business output, which means more workers are unemployed for longer and some may choose to leave the workforce entirely.
By extension, factories, equipment, and other capital assets may sit idle or at the very least underutilized.
The L-shaped recovery is considered to be the most severe form of recovery and is sometimes called a depression.
The affected economy may take years or even decades to recover.
Examples of L-shaped recoveries
Here are some real-world examples of L-shaped recoveries:
The Japanese asset price bubble
Japan’s economy grew at unprecedented levels between the end of the Second World War and the late 1980s.
After the asset-price bubble burst in 1992, deflation followed and the country experienced a long period of slow growth now known as The Lost Decades.
The Japanese economy has not yet returned to the growth rates it enjoyed before the crash.
The Great Depression
Unemployment was as high as 25% after the stock market crash of 1929 in the United States.
GDP contracted significantly and high unemployment persisted for over a decade, despite attempts by President Hoover to increase taxes and introduce federal funding for unemployment benefits.
The Great Recession
When the United States housing market collapsed in 2008, credit markets dried up and bankruptcies soon followed as unemployment rates surged to 10% the following year.
The Bush and Obama administrations instituted a wave of expansionary monetary policy underpinned by new lending facilities and multiple rounds of quantitative easing, but unemployment remained above 5% until 2016.
GDP growth was just 2.3% over the same period with the economy experiencing the slowest recovery since the Great Depression decades earlier.
What causes an L-shaped recovery?
To some extent, the causes of an L-shaped recovery are particular to the shock or crash that preceded it. The recovery seen after the Great Recession, for example, was caused by:
- The inability of the housing sector to rebound after so many loan foreclosures.
- The lack of financial support from the government, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the market collapse, and
- The dire lack of available credit for consumers and businesses as banks diverted capital to repaying the large amount of debt they had amassed.
Having said that, the key determinant in whether an L-shaped recovery occurs is the shock’s ability to damage the supply side of an economy – otherwise known as capital formation.
When the lending ability of a bank is diminished and the value of public and private assets does not grow, recovery is hindered and employee skills are lost as individuals exit the workforce. Productivity then decreases and the shock becomes structural.
Key takeaways
- The L-shaped recovery is a recession shape used by economists to describe different types of recessions and their subsequent recoveries. In an L-shaped recovery, the economy is characterized by a severe recession with high unemployment and near-zero economic growth.
- Real-world examples of an L-shaped recovery include the Japanese asset price bubble, the Great Depression, and the Great Recession.
- To some extent, the factors responsible for an L-shaped recovery are unique to the shock or crash that preceded it. However, whether such a recovery occurs depends on the shock’s ability to damage the supply side of an economy and its structure.
Key Highlights
- Definition and Characteristics:
- An L-shaped recovery describes an economic scenario where the economy experiences a sharp decline followed by a prolonged period of stagnation with weak or no growth.
- On a graph of GDP against time, the shape resembles the letter “L,” indicating a failure to return to trend line growth.
- This type of recovery is marked by a severe recession, high unemployment, and limited economic growth.
- Causes and Implications:
- An L-shaped recovery occurs when the economy fails to return to full employment after a recession.
- Government and other controlling forces may not allocate enough resources to stimulate economic activity, leading to prolonged high unemployment.
- The economy’s capital assets, including factories and equipment, might remain underutilized or idle.
- An L-shaped recovery is considered one of the most severe forms and is sometimes referred to as a depression.
- The recovery period can extend over years or even decades.
- Examples of L-Shaped Recoveries:
- The Japanese Asset Price Bubble: In the late 1980s, Japan experienced an asset price bubble followed by a severe recession. The economy faced prolonged slow growth known as “The Lost Decades.”
- The Great Depression: The Stock Market Crash of 1929 led to a prolonged economic downturn characterized by high unemployment and contraction in GDP.
- The Great Recession: The global financial crisis of 2007-2009 resulted in a slow recovery marked by persistently high unemployment and sluggish GDP growth.
- Causes of L-Shaped Recovery:
- Causes of an L-shaped recovery are specific to the shock or crash that preceded it.
- In the case of the Great Recession, factors included the housing sector’s inability to rebound, lack of immediate government support post-market collapse, and limited available credit.
- Supply-Side Impact:
- The extent to which the supply side of an economy, including capital formation, is damaged by the shock determines the occurrence of an L-shaped recovery.
- Diminished bank lending ability, stagnant asset values, and reduced productivity can hinder recovery and lead to structural economic challenges.
- Key Takeaways:
- An L-shaped recovery depicts a severe recession followed by a prolonged period of stagnant or weak economic growth.
- It is characterized by high unemployment and failure to return to trend line growth.
- Real-world examples include the Japanese asset price bubble, the Great Depression, and the Great Recession.
- The ability of a shock to damage the supply side of the economy and its structure is a key determinant in the occurrence of an L-shaped recovery.
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