eco/561

As a manager, it is important to understand how the business cycle affects supply and demand, prices, and how economic shocks will impact your company's markets, supply chain, and financing. The recent collapse of the housing market, the near failure of our financial system, the wild swings in commodity and stock prices, and the deep recession of 2007-2009 provide a virtual laboratory for the study of the economic shocks and stabilization measures taken to restore equilibrium.