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CA Foundation · Business Economics · Business Cycles

Which of the following best captures the meaning of a business cycle as understood in Business Economics?

A business cycle is a recurrent pattern of fluctuations in aggregate economic activity, with periods of expansion followed by contraction, visible in output, employment, income and prices. It differs from long-run growth, seasonal variation or a single isolated shock, none of which are repeating aggregate waves.

  1. AA permanent upward trend in national output over several decades
  2. BRecurrent fluctuations in aggregate economic activity, with expansions and contractions occurring in a roughly wave-like patternCorrect
  3. CSeasonal changes in demand for goods during festivals each year
  4. DA one-time fall in output caused by a natural disaster

Explanation

A business cycle refers to recurrent ups and downs in overall economic activity such as output, employment, income and prices. A long-run growth trend is different from cyclical movement, and seasonal or one-off shocks are not cycles in this sense. Option 1 is the only one describing recurrent fluctuations in aggregate activity.

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