Suppose that you are a twin. And you and your twin graduated from NYU in 1984. Your twin took a job in Detroit and has remained there. And her nominal salary increased with the rate of the CPI for All Urban Consumers. You took a job in Manhattan and your nominal salary increased with the rate or the CPI of All Urban Consumers. Who is better off you or your twin

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The business cycle is the periodic but irregular up-and-down movement in economic activity, measured by fluctuations in real gross domestic product (gdp) and other macroeconomic variables. a business cycle is typically characterized by four phases—recession, recovery, growth, and decline—that repeat themselves over time. economists note, however, that complete business cycles vary in length. the duration of business cycles can be anywhere from about two to twelve years, with most cycles averaging six years in length. some business analysts use the business cycle model and terminology to study and explain fluctuations in business inventory and other individual elements of corporate operations. but the term "business cycle" is still primarily associated with larger (industry-wide, regional, national, or even international) business trends.