The question of how to prepare for any economic downturn is a relevant topic in today’s world. When thinking about preparing for the next global financial crisis, many people may think of purchasing precious metals. But what if they don't want to invest in physical gold? Shouldn't we start planning now to save money so we'll have some cash no matter what happens in the future? To answer these questions, let's first examine how the economy works and what could lead to future recessions. First, it's helpful to understand how economies work. When looking at the U.S. economy, we should know that GDP (Gross Domestic Product) accounts for everything produced in the United States. This includes goods produced domestically, goods imported, services provided in-country, and taxes collected. In short, GDP measures the total wealth created by a country. As an example, consider an economy where a person owns 1000 acres of land that produces crops. The GDP for this country wo...