Definition

Two consecutive quarters of economic decline, or as economists love to debate, maybe it's a vibe thing. During a recession, everyone becomes an armchair economist and suddenly has strong opinions about GDP, none of which are correct.

Example Usage

"Are we in a recession? Depends on which economist you ask, what definition they use, and whether they had coffee this morning. It's science."

Related Terms

Advanced

smoothing

The practice of manipulating earnings to reduce volatility and create the appearance of steady, predictable growth, because investors apparently can't handle reality. It's the financial equivalent of Instagram filters for your P&L.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Intermediate

turnover

Either the total sales a company racks up in a period, or the depressing rate at which employees flee for greener pastures—context is everything. In finance, high turnover is great; in HR, it's a red flag the size of a building. It can also refer to how quickly inventory or assets get cycled through, because apparently one word needs to do the work of five.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Intermediate

municipal

Pertaining to local city government, or a bond issued by said government that lets you bet on whether a town can pay its debts. Municipal bonds are beloved by tax-averse investors who trust city councils more than they probably should. It's the financial equivalent of believing your local DMV will process your paperwork efficiently.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Intermediate

going concern

The assumption that a company will continue operating for the foreseeable future rather than liquidating, which underpins how financial statements are prepared. When auditors question this assumption, update your résumé.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Intermediate

treasury stock

Shares that a company has issued and later repurchased, sitting in corporate limbo—not quite cancelled but no longer outstanding. The equity equivalent of taking back your gift because the recipient didn't appreciate it enough.

💰 Finance / Accounting
Beginner

Leverage

To use something that already exists rather than building something new, which sounds strategic but usually means "we have no budget." The Swiss Army knife of corporate verbs -- it can mean literally anything.

💼 Corporate / Business💰 Finance / Accounting

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Intermediate

victimization

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