The great depression and recent collapse are 75 years apart. There were 4 major downturns in the 1800s, 3 in the later half, and they were much more severe tha

The great depression and recent collapse are 75 years apart. There were 4 major downturns in the 1800s, 3 in the later half, and they were much more severe than the typical recession in the 20th century, 2 were full-fledged depressions: http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080304215730AAbuqyC http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2008030421573... This is in the context of the industrial revolution, so yes, very much boom or bust.