The permanent effects of recessions and crises are due to changes in stocks
A recession (we will take the example of the 2008-2009 recession in OECD countries, but we are obviously interested in the possible permanent effects of the coronavirus crisis) has permanent effects on economies’ situation because it changes stocks (if a stock of capital or debt is changed, the economic equilibrium will then be permanently different, which is not the case if there is only a change of flows) . This applies to: The productive capital stock, reduced by the decline in investment and by corporate bankruptcies; The human capital stock, reduced by rising unemployment; The stock of corporate debt, increased by the decline in revenues and earnings; The stock of public debt, increased by the fiscal deficits implemented in response to the recession.