[astazangasta]

This is idiotic. We don't need a recession to clear detritus from the economy, that should be the result of routine investment. We get recessions because the economy as a whole overcommits to speculation because investors have too much money and too little sense. This is unnecessary, as thw Great Moderation shows. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Moderation

[dahart]

We've had two recessions since the start of the Great Moderation... what is it demonstrating?

I'd agree that recessions aren't necessary in theory, under assumptions that everyone can act perfectly, but that's pretty academic.