Eastern stagnation its causes and consequences. What is stagnation - in simple terms (definition)

What is stagnation in the economy? This is a rather subtle and at the same time complex process that requires deep and detailed study.

Stagnation in the economy is, in simple terms, a period of long-term stagnation in the economic life of a particular country. (Stagnation in Russia, stagnation in England, stagnation in the USA).

What is stagnation in the economy is now clear, but what are its causes.

Is it possible to avoid such a phenomenon? Is it really dangerous? Are there ways to deal with this situation?

Speaking specifically about our country, the stagnation of the ruble may result in the fading of all business activity in Russia.

Not growing (but not falling, which is important). There is no visible progress and regression, life in the economic sphere seems to freeze.

It does not even go with the flow, but stops at one point.

Against this background, there is a sharp jump in unemployment. Crime is on the rise, more social problems are emerging.

Important: inflation, rising prices for essential products - all these are negative factors that allow you to simply and in detail explain what stagnation in the economy is and why it is not desirable.

From the history

For the first time, this phenomenon was discussed only in the 20th century. Specifically, in 30 years.

The situation took place in the American economy. The description of the process is clearly given by the eminent economist of the time, Murray.

He called stagnation the stagnation of the centuries. There were also methods of resolving and getting out of this situation.

Then they listened to him, in America they agreed with the country's deficit in order to increase spending on the most necessary. The path was correct.

Stagnation was forgotten at the beginning of the next decade. The Murray method has been used and is still used in different countries of the world.

Murray explained to America and the world why the economic crisis should not be allowed to progress.

It can lead to a decline in the manufacturing sector. Then the gross domestic product will fall sharply, which is highly undesirable.

The economy of a particular country may simply collapse. This is the collapse of the entire state, the collapse of the ordinary life of ordinary people.

Important: Murray proved that stagnation, if it is not “cured” in time, will affect every person without exception. His theory also says that a successful economy will always come to such a sad process. This is a fact that has been proven by time in different parts of the globe.

About the causes

To better understand what stagnation in the economy is, you need to understand its causes.

Experts say that this phenomenon does not arise due to any one problem, it is a complex of "state ills."

So let's go:

  • the bureaucracy grows;
  • the state conducts an inefficient economic policy in general;
  • legislation on business entities is too “raw”, needs to be finalized, revised, or is absent altogether;
  • there is no normal interaction on economic and financial issues with other world powers;
  • extensive way of development of production activity;
  • lack of innovation in the manufacturing sector, outdated equipment, lack of measures to improve production;
  • curtailment of scientific and design programs, ideas.

Important: the emergence of a process can be affected by something that a person could not foresee - elements, force majeure, wars, crises in other countries. But this is a separate story, which, if it happens, is quite rare compared to the standard causes of stagnation.

Any of these problems in itself is global, but in combination they resemble a time bomb.

Sooner or later the ruble will stagnate (speaking of Russia in particular).

In real terms, normal GDP growth is around 3 percent per year. The lower the growth, the slower the country develops.

Over time, the difference increases and after 20 years it is 25 percent compared to developed countries.

In 20 years, Russia in terms of GDP will lag behind the world powers by almost 50 percent.

This is the current level of Montenegro. The life of ordinary citizens can really get worse.

This is the stagnation period in the life of Russia. And we already experienced a recession in 2014-15.

Important: In order to avoid such a phenomenon in the country's economy, it is necessary to pay great attention to the financing of science and design innovations, in particular. Only the improvement of the production sphere of activity will help to avoid a dangerous phenomenon, or make it less painful for the country as a whole and for each of its individual citizens.

About phases and signs

Let's start in order. Stagnation - what is it in simple words, we have already figured it out.

Now you need to understand when the process occurs, what stages it consists of.

Any stagnation, including the stagnation of the ruble, has four periods:

  • increase;
  • stop;
  • decrease;
  • completion.

In a country (if we are talking about Russia, for example), the ruble is already stagnating if:

  • inflation takes place. And it is significant. And hinders the development of the economy. At the same time, jobs are under attack, there are more unemployed people in the country, more crime, more mortality;
  • revenue is declining, practically not collected;
  • production seems to stop. Factories and enterprises can work, but they do not develop, the number of products they produce does not increase, there is practically no sales;
  • no, there are fewer of them;
  • falls;
  • ordinary people in the country are getting poorer, they can no longer afford large purchases. Money is not stored in, but at home, they are not invested in business and real estate, life stops.

About species

It is a big mistake to assume that the stagnation of the ruble in Russia may be the only problem. After all, this is, first of all, a process that affects all spheres of life.

Modern economists and political scientists speak of 2 types of process:

  • monopolistic;
  • transitional.

Monopoly arises when a separate monopolist appears in the state in each area of ​​economic activity.

Other manufacturers simply have nothing to do in such a market, so that they do not introduce, no matter how hard they try, to reach the same level with the monopolist, they fail.

Important: in order to prevent a monopoly process in the economy, it is necessary that the state be interested in preventing the emergence of a monopoly.

This is not only about production, but also any other area! If the state puts obstacles for a monopoly, it will be extremely difficult and even impossible for it to arise and live.

The stagnation of the ruble was observed in Russia when the Soviet Union collapsed.

Just then, we were moving from one economic model of governing the country to another, completely new to us.

It must be understood that Russia will experience stagnation in the next 20 years.

In terms of prosperity, we will descend to poor countries.

This is the current forecast of the Ministry of Economic Development of our country.

GDP will grow only by 1.8-2 percent per year. This is very little for us.

Only by the beginning of the 1930s this figure will be slightly increased, but even then this will not be enough for the healthy development of the country and the infusion of investments into it from abroad.

Overcoming stagnation will be possible only with the introduction of a number of innovative reforms that will have a positive impact on the production sector.

To avoid the stagnation of the ruble in Russia, we need GDP growth of at least 3.5 percent per year.

Important: in order to prevent the transitional stagnation of the ruble (as was the case in Russia), it is important to take care of a smooth transition from one economic model of government to another. The process can drag on for many years, but it will be less painful than a sudden and not always justified change in such management.

Who is to blame and what to do?

Summarizing the previous sections of the article, I would like to note that those responsible for the stagnation of the ruble (in Russia, for example) can be searched for a long time and endlessly.

Of course, such a process is allowed due to:

  • inefficient public administration;
  • ambiguous tax policy;
  • stagnation of the banking sector;
  • economic sanctions against Russia;
  • and other reasons we talked about earlier.

However, any such process has a beginning and an end. There is no need to talk about the duration of this phenomenon.

To minimize the consequences of this economic process, the common man needs to:

  • already now start saving money “for a rainy day”, preferably in foreign currency;
  • have a backup job or at least a side job;
  • acquire a demanded working profession or skill;
  • try to reduce your own expenses;
  • don't take too much.

Important: atread such simple things while there is time, and the crisis has not come. Experts recommend, as an alternative, to pay attention to agriculture, work on the global web, creative activity, and your own.
Stagnation is a phenomenon that can be prevented or its consequences can be made less severe for different segments of the population.

So, let's begin:

  • the state may request the assistance of the international community;
  • the country must expand its horizons, in a figurative sense, of course. Entering new markets will be very helpful;
  • innovations should be introduced into production on an ongoing basis;
  • the state should stimulate the development of science and technology;
  • the country should take care of the regular modernization of the production sphere of activity, avoid the slightest stagnation in this matter;
  • the state should not be drawn into international and regional conflicts;
  • the currency must be stabilized.

Finally

The stagnation of the ruble in Russia can be quite dangerous. At least because:

  • the rate of production falls sharply;
  • trade is down;
  • investments no longer come in the right amount;
  • business activity is falling;
  • inflation only progresses;
  • unemployment is rising;
  • social security is at a minimum.

The stagnation of the ruble will certainly lead to a recession. This is an inevitable consequence that will also need to be experienced.

A recession occurs when the level of GDP is at a very low level. But all this is far from critical and, with proper management, it will certainly pass.

A recession is:

  • a sharp increase in unemployment among the economically active population;
  • outflow of investments;
  • rising prices;
  • the national currency depreciates;
  • devaluation takes place.

This period is important for the country to understand what mistakes were made and how to avoid them in the future.

Any recession ends sooner or later, stagnation recedes, a new round in the development of the economy begins.

Stagnation of the economy and dreams of power

What is stagnation? In Latin, there is such a word "stagnatio", which in translation into Russian means "immobility". From it comes the name of such an economic term as "stagnation". From the above translation it is clear that he describes a phenomenon of a negative nature. What stagnation is, in simple terms, will be described in the article.

General concept of the term

If we talk about stagnation in simple words, this is such an economic situation that is characterized in the market, a halt in the development of production, and a weakening of trading activity. All this should take place over a long period.

Stagnation in the economy is literally a slowdown, a lack of renewal both in production and in other types of business, including financial ones. At the same time, the production of new types of products ceases, unemployment increases, wages fall in all sectors of the economy, as well as the standard of living in the country as a whole.

Market stagnation is the lack of its susceptibility to innovation, to scientific and technological progress. It does not allow any innovations into itself, everything goes according to the thumb, the structure of the economy “freezes”. There are two types of economic stagnation, which differ from each other in the reasons for which they appeared, in the way they proceed, and in the possibilities of getting out of the current situation.

The first kind of stagnation

The first type of stagnation is the monopolistic type. Its cause is an overabundance of monopoly enterprises in the economic arena. They stifle competitors, thereby preventing business development. Most of all, this type is inherent in the manufacturing sector, so the protracted economic "bogging" begins here. The main characteristics of this process are as follows:

  • A sharp reduction in investment packages.
  • Unemployment on a massive scale.

To overcome such phenomena, American theoretical economists propose to stimulate the growth of achievements in technology and science, the export of capital abroad and increase the purchasing power of the country's population.

The second type of stagnation

The second type of stagnation is the stagnation of the transitional period. It is characterized by the peculiarities of the country's transition from one economic system to another - from planning-command to market. It took place in the countries that were part of the Soviet Union, at the end of the last century, when there was an unprecedented production and investment decline, there was an outflow of "brains" to the countries of the West.

All economic sectors were severely affected. Due to the lack of products that could withstand competition, the ex-Soviet republics did not have the opportunity to smoothly merge into the global economy.

As a conclusion from the second type of stagnation, economists propose actions to stop the decline in production by attracting a complex of goods and services from abroad. As well as further stabilization of the situation with access to growth processes.

On the causes of stagnation in the country

Scientists are of the opinion that economic stagnation must be learned to predict, but this is a very difficult task. After all, there are always more reasons for stagnation than two or three. The causes of stagnation are a whole complex of factors. As a rule, they are easier to analyze after the fact. Among the most common reasons are the following:

  • increased bureaucratization of state apparatus structures;
  • corruption of managers and representatives of the business community in some sectors;
  • backlog in funding science;
  • depreciation of household equipment;
  • weakening financial and trade relations with other states;
  • mistakes in choosing a political course (with the second type of stagnation).

Local causes of stagnation

As for stagnation in a particular sector of the economy or at a particular enterprise, the reasons here may be somewhat different. So, for example, stagnation in the work of any commercial firm occurs when we are tired of continuous growth, from a decrease in resources, from the rigidity of the structure and methods of carrying out activities, and the lack of new ideas and developments.

Stagnation within an individual business is easier to overcome than at the state level, however, if it coincides with the economic decline throughout the country, then the private structure falls under a double blow.

Theoretical Ways Out

For a country to emerge from a protracted crisis, its leaders must have a clear plan and take concerted action to restructure the economy.

There is currently no single recipe for exactly what these measures should be. But still there are proposals of theoretical scientists in this regard. They boil down to the following actions aimed at eliminating the causes of stagnation:

  1. Strengthening anti-corruption measures at the highest level of power.
  2. Struggle against excessive bureaucratization of the administrative apparatus.
  3. Increasing the scale of investments in the development of scientific and technological progress, specific innovative developments (especially those related to the nanotechnology industry, medicine and space exploration).
  4. Updating the material and technical base in production.
  5. Optimization of economic ties with other states.

It would seem that practical economists, like no one else, are able to make their significant contribution to resolving issues of overcoming stagnation. But in reality, the situation is quite difficult. Since the proposed ways are not always fully thought out, equipped with mechanisms for their implementation. However, let's call them.

  1. Prompt introduction into production of the latest developments in the field of science and technology in all economic segments. (Question: how could these developments be created in the face of declining financial injections?)
  2. Increasing the purchasing power of people. (Question: at the expense of what resources and mechanisms should it be carried out?)
  3. Reducing the cost package in the production of products. (Question: is it possible to reduce costs in the presence of obsolete equipment and what else to save on?)
  4. Increasing income and tax revenues at the expense of the profits of monopoly enterprises.
  5. Stimulating the development of output of products intended for export. (Question: how to turn the tide if ties with other states are at a low level?)

Dangerous Consequences of Stagnation

The results of stagnation are, in simple words, the loss of jobs, a decrease in the ability to purchase something significant for the family, the lack of decent goods on the shelves, the need to "tighten the belts". This is a stop in the development of scientific thought and in its implementation, a lag in health care, education and weapons.

What threatens such a situation? It is very dangerous and can lead to the emergence of revolutionary sentiments, to calls for the overthrow of the existing government, mass demonstrations in the streets, and strikes at enterprises. Having become acquainted in detail with the meaning of the word “stagnation”, with its dangerous consequences and difficulties in overcoming, what conclusion can be drawn? How to get rid of it, if neither theorists nor practitioners fully know this?

It seems that it is necessary to conclude that, firstly, this negative phenomenon has been theoretically studied, and secondly, we are all witnesses that it can be overcome. For example, as it was in the USA after the 30s and in the territory of the former USSR after the 90s of the last century. This means that a specific government of a specific country that has fallen into a protracted economic crisis must and can find the only right solutions and ways to implement them.

Stagnation is an economic process that got its name from the Latin word for "stop". The essence of stagnation is that the economy goes from a progressive state to a stagnant one, is not characterized by any changes. Stagnation can last from several months to several years, and if measures are not taken within the economic system to overcome it, then stagnation will lead to a crisis and economic decline.

The characteristic features of stagnation are as follows:

To avoid business stagnation, be sure to keep records and statistics, develop your own KPIs to evaluate performance. More about KPI indicators, they can be used both for evaluation and for building motivation systems.

Types of stagnation

According to economic theory, stagnation has two varieties:

  • monopolistic stagnation;
  • transitional stagnation.

As the name suggests, monopolistic stagnation occurs when the economy begins to dominated by monopoly organizations. The consequences of a monopoly are obvious and known even to people who are not particularly knowledgeable in economics: competition comes to naught, thereby eliminating the natural incentive for the economy to develop.

Quality begins to turn into quantity, the characteristics of goods and services are steadily declining, as manufacturers do not need to keep them at a high competitive level.

The best-known historical example of monopolistic stagnation is the Great Depression in the United States, caused by a crisis of overproduction, which took place in the 1930s. When “everything was too good,” eventually “things got really bad.”

The dominance of large monopolies, family businesses, and state-supported corporations has strangled small and medium-sized businesses, driving the economy to stagnation.

According to the Western theory of stagnation developed by economists Stendl, Sweezy and Baran, monopolistic stagnation can be overcome without crisis and decline.

This theory states that if a revival of competition in the near future is not possible, then it is necessary to make monopoly income as useful as possible.

After all, the crisis of overproduction is the inability to use the capital received from the stable operation of enterprises. This capital can be exported to other countries, thereby contributing to the enrichment of the state, as well as actively introduced into scientific and technological progress and social programs.

On the one hand, this will not allow production to lower the bar for product quality, and on the other hand, will increase the purchasing power of the population and avoid overproduction.

As for the transitional stagnation, it is much less studied, although it took place in all countries where there was a complete change in the economic system. Therefore, the closest and most relevant example is the stagnation in the USSR in the 1980s, when the economy was already being rebuilt to market standards, but still remained planned.

The old economic mechanisms have already exhausted themselves, and the new ones have not yet entered into force. All this led to a violation of the stability of the market balance, to a crisis and economic decline in the 1990s.

Read more about the crisis of the 90s in the section. Diversification helps to reduce the probability of default. Even if one of the activities becomes unprofitable, others can offset this risk.

Real investors know that if you invest your money correctly, you can save capital and even earn money during times of stagnation and during times of crisis. Read on where you can invest money, which describes various options from bank deposits to mutual funds and stocks.

The stagnation theory does not offer any generally accepted solution to the problems with transient stagnation. The reason is obvious: it is possible to consider the problem and look for a solution only within the framework of some economic model.

When models change, a state of chaos can always set in, and it will not be possible to say with certainty about any economic laws that they will work. That is why the transitional stagnation in the economy portends a crisis and decline that is almost impossible to prevent.

In the economy, stagnation in production, trade, etc. It is expressed in zero or insignificant growth rates, the unchanged structure of the economy, its immunity to innovations, scientific and technological progress. The state of stagnation was typical for the US economy in the 1930s, for the Soviet economy in the mid-1970s - late 80s.

Modern Encyclopedia. 2000 .

Synonyms:

See what "STAGNATION" is in other dictionaries:

    Stagnation- - long-term stagnation in the economy. It is expressed in low (or zero) GDP growth rates, high unemployment, and a decrease in the standard of living of the population. During the period of stagnation, the structure of the economy remains unchanged, there are no significant ... Banking Encyclopedia

    In the economy, a phenomenon in the country's economy, which is a stagnation, lack of growth in industrial and agricultural production, in trade turnover. In English: Stagnation See also: Business cycles Financial Dictionary Finam. ... ... Financial vocabulary

    - (French stagnation, from lat. stagno I make immobile, I stop; lat. stagnum standing water): Stagnation (economy) stagnation in production, trade, etc. Stagnation (ecology) stagnation leading to ... ... Wikipedia

    - [Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

    Timelessness, stagflation, stagnation, recession, depression Dictionary of Russian synonyms. stagnation see stagnation Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language. Practical guide. M.: Russian language. Z. E. Alexandrova. 2011 ... Synonym dictionary

    - (stagnation) A situation where there is little or no change in technology or income levels. This situation is opposite to the development, when the first changes, and incomes grow. Economy. Dictionary. M .: INFRA M, Publishing House All World ... Economic dictionary

    STAGNATION, stagnation, pl. no, female (lat. stagnatio immobility from stagnum stagnant water) (economy). Stagnation, lack of development. Stagnation in production is a common occurrence in monopoly capitalism. Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. ... ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

    stagnation- The state of an economic object or region, in which for a long time there is no growth in production, and even more so its development. Syn.: economic stagnation; stagnation... Geography Dictionary

    The state of the economy, characterized by the stagnation of production, trade over a long period. S. is accompanied by an increase in the number of unemployed, a decrease in wages and the standard of living of the population. Dictionary of business terms. Academician ... Glossary of business terms

    - (from lat. stagno I make immovable) in the economy, stagnation in production, trade, etc ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

  • Lucy, stop! , Ludmila Gurchenko. New life. New values. New prices. New words. Populism, pluralism, management, electorate, consensus, image, mentality, inauguration, stagnation, presentation... It's been like a few years...
  • Berlin and environs, Josef Roth. The collection of essays and articles by the Austrian writer and journalist, compiled by the famous Germanist translator M. L. Rudnitsky, includes texts written by Josef Roth for Berlin newspapers in ...

Modern man often hears the word "stagnation". Without knowing the meaning of this term, we sometimes cannot fully understand the meaning of the article we read or the news we heard.

Meanwhile, it is not so difficult to explain what stagnation is in simple terms. This broad definition is applied in three kinds of sciences.

And although it is described in different words, it still has a number of common features, the main of which can be called stagnation and suppression of development with a tendency to rapid destruction.

So, environmentalists call stagnation problems with the supply of oxygen to water bodies;

Psychologists - the cessation of the growth of the cultural development of society as a whole or the targeted infringement of the rights of a group of people striving for development by a dictatorial government;

Economists - a series of problems with production, which over time lead to a deterioration in the financial situation of the country.

The concept of "stagnation" is especially firmly entrenched in the economic context, which will be discussed in more detail below.

What is economic stagnation in simple words

Specialists in the field of finance call the stagnation of the economy such a state of it, which is accompanied by a long-term stagnation in the production and sale of products.

In other words, for several years the economy of the state, as it were, "dozes." Lack of progress eventually causes decline and inevitably leads to a crisis.

Signs characteristic of economic stagnation:

  1. The decline in employment;
    The depreciation of the state currency, accompanied by crisis phenomena, slows down the pace of economic development. This causes a deterioration in the financial condition of enterprises, contributes to the outflow of capital and the reduction of jobs.
  2. The lack of an increase in the pace of production and its development, which is why the state in economic terms begins to lag far behind other countries.
  3. Deterioration of the standard of living of the population of the country.
    This process begins almost imperceptibly, purchasing power decreases gradually, but continuously.

Negative phenomena contributing to stagnation in the economy:

  • Bureaucracy;
  • Lack of effective tools for proper economic management;
  • Poor performance by regulatory authorities of the functions assigned to them;
  • Insufficient investment in the development of science;
  • Conservatism in solving economic issues;
  • Appointment to the governing bodies of persons with inappropriate or insufficient qualifications;
  • Corruption among officials and civil servants;
  • Poor political situation (lack of cooperation with other countries, conflicts, wars).

The effects of stagnation can be delayed or mitigated through government support measures or seeking help from international financial institutions such as the IMF.

What is stagnation in simple terms: Types of stagnation

To explain what stagnation is in simple words, it is necessary to understand in more detail where the described phenomenon “originates”? There are 2 types of economic stagnation:

  1. Monopolistic.

The reasons for its occurrence are: the predominance of large firms in the state market and an obstacle to the development of market competition.

The lack of incentives is fraught with a halt in the development of the country's economy.

In pursuit of the quantity of goods and services, their quality begins to suffer, since the manufacturer is not interested in improving their competitive characteristics.

  1. Transition.

This type of stagnation leads to a sharp decline in production and a large outflow of capital from the country.

Despite the fact that this type has not been fully studied by economists, it is easily recognizable and quite common, especially often a cardinal change in the economic system of the state is accompanied by transitional stagnation.

You can understand what stagnation is in simple terms by considering the most striking examples of both types of this phenomenon:

  1. United States, the 1920s is the pre-Great Depression of 1929-1933. Then, against the backdrop of an overabundance of production at the enterprises of monopolists, all paths to the development of small and medium-sized businesses were blocked.
  2. The Soviet Union, the end of the 1980s - the last years of the existence of the state. At this time, the market economy began to gain momentum, but the process was slowed down by the planned management system. It turned out that the old regulatory mechanisms were no longer effective, and the new ones did not gain strength. This provoked a crisis in almost all areas and led to economic decline by the 1990s.