Why do business cycles happen?

Answer: Self-reinforcing economic waves

Businesses fail randomly — Wrong. Business failures increase during downturns, but they're symptoms of cycles, not causes. Cycles result from coordinated waves of optimism and pessimism affecting investment, consumption, and employment across the economy simultaneously.

Seasons affect all industries — Wrong. While some industries have seasonal patterns, business cycles are multi-year economy-wide fluctuations between expansion (growth, low unemployment) and recession (contraction, high unemployment). They're driven by investment, credit, and confidence waves, not seasons.

Self-reinforcing economic waves ✓ — Correct! Economies cycle through expansion and contraction due to self-reinforcing feedback loops. Expansion: confidence → spending → hiring → more spending. Eventually, overheating triggers problems (inflation, debt, overinvestment). Contraction: fear → reduced spending → layoffs → less spending. Cycles vary in length and severity, but the pattern repeats throughout history.