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Great Depression
Great Depression
Problem: First came the stock market crash of 1929. A year later a wave of bank failures began that didn't end until Roosevelt took office in 1933. GDP dropped 26% and unemployment hit 24%.

Outcome: The FDIC, the SEC, and a host of new institutions and financial regulations.

NEXT: 1970s inflation
Last updated October 14 2008: 10:02 AM ET
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