I'm sorry, what? How does an economy "discount" itself? I don't think I follow your point here. I mean sure, this recession has negatively shocked our economy.

I'm sorry, what? How does an economy "discount" itself? I don't think I follow your point here. I mean sure, this recession has negatively shocked our economy. By definition, that's a "permanent" change in GDP. Just like how a positive shock (i.e. the dot-com boom) "permanently" changed GDP.