The spread of the infection COVID-19 is yet to see its stop and the cases overall are as yet expanding to lacs of figures. The worldwide monetary movement has seen a brutal blow and regardless of solid reactions from the legislature on harsh social separating measures, lockdown and money related liquidity approaches it appears that worldwide downturn has just thumped the entryways.

What is Recession? Key intakes on Recession

In financial aspects, a recession is a business cycle constriction when there is a general decrease in monetary movement. Downturns for the most part happen when there is a far reaching drop in spending (an unfriendly interest stun). This might be activated by different occasions, for example, a monetary emergency, an outer exchange stun, an unfriendly stockpile stun, the blasting of a financial air pocket, or an enormous scope characteristic or anthropogenic debacle (for example a pandemic).

In the United States, it is defined as “a significant decline in economic activity spread across the market, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales” In the United Kingdom, it is defined as a negative economic growth for two consecutive quarters. (Source: WikiPedia)


What Happens in a Recession?

During a recession, the stock market goes down badly, rate of unemployment sees an upward trend. Apart from this there is practically no economic growth in most of the industries.

In simple words, during a recession, real GDP is at very low levels. The GDP growth rate is negative. That means production activity is low.

All the components of GDP – consumption expenditure, investment expenditure, government expenditure and net exports decline during a recession.  Employment, consumer spending and business investment have declined and have not yet started increasing. Inflation rate decreases with a lag and imports also decrease as domestic income growth slows. There is a slump in the stock market, decline in housing prices.

During a recession, the central bank usually tries to push interest rates downward to stimulate the economy. during a recession, people become thrifty and also nervous about borrowing money and tend to save what they have. Following the basic demand curve, low demand for credit pushes the price of credit meaning interest rate downward. This is how the central bank tries to revive the economy. When interest rates go down, people would likely be keeping less deposits in banks and try to get cheaper loans. This will ultimately increase spending in the economy, which becomes an imperative need at the time of a recession.

What is Opposite of Recession?

Opposite of recession is expansion. Expansion, in financial aspects, an upward pattern in the business cycle, described by an expansion underway and work, which thus causes an increment in the salaries and spending of family units and organizations. In spite of the fact that not all families and organizations experience increments in pay, their more prominent certainty about the future during a development prompts them to make bigger buys and speculations.

During a monetary expansion, increments in yield are generally the consequence of increments in the acquisition of durable products by customers and of hardware and gear by organizations. Buyer and business certainty fills the interest for items and administrations. As request develops, organizations add to their inventories to guarantee that they will have the option to stay aware of new buy orders. The choice to build inventories frequently additionally affects creation volume, well beyond the expansion in genuine deals.

Regardless of whether development is supportable for a significant stretch of time relies upon various variables. Among them are the degree and nature of credit gave by banks and other budgetary delegates, the presence of suitable money related and financial strategies to help the upward pattern, the complete creation limit across ventures and the bit of it that has been utilized, and outer variables that could impact vitality costs or different parts of creation.

When was the last recession?


The last great or an impacting recession was during 2008. This is also called as the Great Recession. The Great Recession was a time of verified general decrease (downturn) in national economies all around during the late 2000s and mid-2010s. The scale and timing of the downturn changed from nation to nation. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has presumed that it was the most serious financial and money related emergency.

Historical view of recession

The collapse of the credit market changed the economic behaviour as businesses were dubious to invest and hire, and families were afraid to spend. But this is not 2008; the economy is facing in real terms with credit market intact. Millions of people are being forced to shelter without getting themselves to participate in production or manufacturing. We are losing the use of land and knowledge which requires clusters of human beings to interact and perform the activity. The only way to hinder the spread of this fatal virus is its economic inactivity but by paying the cost for the coronavirus led recession.

Recession proof Industries:

In the midst of global recession or an economic slowdown, often markets become volatile which ultimately leads investors to sell stocks at large quantity, like Warren Buffet’s decision to sell $30 million worth of stock last day. Within this period of economic downturn, many businesses are prone to adjustments, no matter of what’s happening inside the market, but some work well.


Recession-Proof businesses aren’t in amounts but you can find a few businesses which have a tendency to find performance when consumer opinion and unemployment rises drops.

When we choose household items like consumer principles, including soap, toothpaste, and shampoo enjoy a demand for their services and products. This shows regardless of what takes place in the market there’ll be demand for household items on a recurring basis. Company in this segment include toothpaste, soap, shampoo, laundry, toilet paper.

Other industry which is also considered as a recession proof industry is Alcoholic Beverage industry these high margin products are in great demand as always.

Other service industry which is proved to be recession proof is Death and Funeral Service as the popular saying goes “The only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes” so the demand for obvious event has to be all time high.

Recession Proof Businesses:

After the scenario of Global Recession 2008 which essentially ruined the global economy, where unemployment in the United States was at 10%. This global fail in the economy almost made the worst business conditions. Security gets the number 1 priority as employees float towards organizations.

Because as the world grapples with COVID-19 pandemic, we are going to confront the possibility of a recession. But not to forget that during the global recession of 2008, there was still some flow of cash as not everyone’s finances suffered during that time. That’s where recession-proof businesses played their role in keeping the flow of cash round the clock.

Thus, the key to job security during a recession is to find a business or industry that shows recession-proof, that is immune from outsourcing and shows long term growth potential.

A recession proof business should be chosen in a way that cover basic necessity of a consumer in their day to day activities. Where demand is consistent for those products even in the midst of economic slowdown.

Best Sectors for Recession Proof Businesses:

market proof

Food and Beverage

Food always works. Whatever be the condition of the market, people must consume. Whether they’re looking to maintain themselves during a treat or the day to help them via a scenario, you will find franchise and company opportunities just waiting to be cashed in on.

Who does not love candies?

Fun Fact to be noted, Candies consumption increased throughout the 2008 recession. Many Americans employed a burst of sugar through times of crisis to ease, which makes this sector a solid investment for franchise or the business.

The New York Times reported, in 2008, the gains of this favourite confectionery brand Cadbury climbed by 30% and, at precisely the exact same calendar year, Swiss food and beverage company Nestlé reported a gain growth of 10.9 percent.

This is not the first time that the market has attempted the candy business; Mars Bars and Snickers, Tootsie Pops were invented during the Great Depression.

Why are people Cooking?

In Coronavirus times, people are only cooking that means a good deal less of heading out for supper and a ton more. Meals climbed in the recession’s conclusion. And in a collapse that is economic, home cooking is making an appearance with the present distancing guidelines set up.

Why, in a grocery store, Naturally?

Grocery Stores are a secure investment, not simply because they provide individuals the simple sustenance they want to live (food, and tons of it); they also give customers with their fundamental products.

Regardless of what the market is performing, everyone would do their own laundry, people have to brush their teeth and clean their dishes. Grocery stores offer toothpaste, dish soap and laundry detergent, all which will be bought in bad in addition to in good times. Even thought the returns are less, but earnings are safe and don’t fluctuate

However, folks may Not locate themselves splurging through a recession, but it does not mean they’ll cut out drinking from the funding. In reality, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) discovered that individuals tend to consume more during times of downturn. They might not be buying mixed drinks, but they’re drinking lots of wines and beers.

Cleaning Services

Even though Cleaning solutions might appear to be a luxury for all, this industry is expected to increase a lot. With the COVID-19 aka Coronavirus pandemic everyone would want their work spaces be sterile. Cleaning businesses are in demand nowadays more than ever.

If you think apart from the pandemic perspective too, just think that everything needs to be washed on a weekly or daily basis. Cash in on this industry Mop at one time with the help of a good start-up, with the right resources, you are sure to boom very fast. Cleaning businesses considering the condition of the market, will provide you with a trusted income.

Retail Consignment

When money Stream is weak, individuals do not purchase books, furniture or clothing.

What people may rationalize doing is purchasing used products at thrift shops and consignment shops. The stigma around used products has disappeared, they have become so trendy that places from where such things are purchased even has a name, they are called thrift stores. The activity is called thrifting.

The trend Hit through the recession. Although clothes shops’ sales were down by 10% in 2009, the typical sales at thrift shops had improved by an average of 35 percent, based on CNN Money.

Information Technology

In a world Chances are emerging, of developing technology. In accordance with The Wall Street Journal, IT has been the fastest-growing business at the U.S. market during the Wonderful Recession. The efficient, more powerful and newer technologies of the last couple of years has made us determined by our apparatus.

We now live in a universe where the iPhone is flaunted by customers. This same phone helps in shielding their houses with the most house safety or for changing temperatures, their favourite song or speak to Google assistant, Alexa or Siri with.

Technology has begun to control the operation of our interactions, our businesses, and our lives and has escalated to the world. Because of our reliance on technologies, this business is only going to continue to rise.

In reality, a New York Times article called to focus the way the earnings for pricey and expensive tech-toys (such as $1,000 TVs and video-game systems) were in the upswing during 2008 while earnings for meals were decreasing.

Health and Hospitality Services

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has in the past forecasted that the healthcare and social assistance industry will include over 5.7 million projects in 2010 to 2020, the largest projected increase for virtually any business. BLS also estimated that need for health aides and private health aides is expected to rise by 70 percent due to the aging baby-boomer production (that the U.S. Census estimates that there’ll be over 57.8 million baby boomers between the ages of 66 and 84 by 2030). This business is currently having the most growth and claims job-security.

In fact, particularly in times like COVID-19, this industry is perhaps the most profit maximising industry while other industries are working extremely hard to survive.

Repair Industry

Think of a day when cars do not break down, roofs do not leak, and windows do not shatter. Sounds impossible, right?

Repair industry is one of the best recession free business industry to be in. People may reduce the things they may want to repair, but the demand will never go out. Something or the other always breaks.

That can be fantastic news for the repair market, although terrible news for the user. You should also note that people are inclined to invest their money rather than purchasing products that are new and trashing their merchandise.

This is Evident in the repair business. The Los Angeles Times reported that a $36 billion growth in sales at automobile repair garages from the U.S. between 2010 and 2011. Furthermore, a post in the Journal of Marketing Channels discovered that automobile repair businesses offering a vast selection of services are far more effective during recessions than businesses which specialize in 1 area.

Read More: Everything Covered about Work From Home

How to survive a Recession?

In order to survive the recession or downturn in the economy first every individual or an organisation should do is the evaluation of risk  which include knowing the impact of risk.

Next step is to know how well your business is placed to face the upcoming economic downturn. How your clients will be affected by this downturn. Segregate your clients in a way to understand client’s risk exposure to this recession.

Evaluate your services: what kind of service you deal in whether it is “must-have” service. Create a plan of action after analyzing the risk which your organisation will encounter, such as cut off in marketing expenditure, new customer acquisition strategy, salary or wages to labour and employees.

Implement the proposed plan of action and take follow up action at necessary steps.

Contributors to this article:

  • Aayush Bucha
  • Rahul Somani
  • Paras Agarwal