conjunctuurcycli

Conjunctuurcycli, also known as business cycles, refer to the recurring, but not perfectly predictable, fluctuations in economic activity that an economy experiences over time. These cycles consist of periods of expansion, when the economy grows, and periods of contraction, or recession, when economic activity declines. The typical phases of a business cycle are expansion, peak, contraction, and trough.

During an expansion, key economic indicators such as GDP, employment, and industrial production tend to rise. Consumer spending and business investment increase, leading to higher demand for goods and services. This phase can last for several years.

A peak marks the highest point of economic activity in a cycle. After the peak, the economy begins to slow down, entering a contractionary phase. During a contraction or recession, economic output falls, unemployment rises, and investment and consumer spending decrease. Recessions are generally defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.

A trough represents the lowest point of economic activity before recovery begins. Following the trough, the economy starts to expand again, initiating a new cycle. Various factors can influence the length and intensity of these cycles, including monetary and fiscal policies, technological innovations, and external shocks. Economists study conjunctuurcycli to understand economic behavior and to inform policy decisions aimed at stabilizing the economy.