"...Recessions are a normal condition to a market
economy as they are regulating any excess, bankrupting the weakest
players or those with the highest leverage. However, one of the
mandates of central banking is to fight a process
(business cycles) that occurs "naturally". The interference of
central banks such as the Federal Reserve appear to be exaggerating
the amplitude of bubbles and the manias that fuel them. It could be
argued that business cycles are being replaced by phases of booms
and busts, which are still displaying a cyclic behavior, but subject
to much more volatility. Although manias and bubbles have taken
place
many times before in history under very specific circumstances
(Tulip Mania, South Sea Company, Mississippi Company, etc.), central
banks appear to make matters worst by providing too much credit and
being unable or unwilling to stop the process with things are
getting out of control (massive borrowing). Instead of economic stability regulated by
market forces, monetary intervention creates long term instability
for the sake of short term stability."
--Professor Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Hofstra University