As the above citation from Hyman Minsky shows, one may think of modern macroeconomic development as a sequence of boom-bust cycles. Boom-bust cycles occur not only for specific sectors, but also for the entire macroeconomy. Macroeconomic boom periods are usually characterised by overvaluation of assets, overconfidence, expectations of high returns and undervaluation of risk, and by overleveraging. Bust periods reverse confidence and expectations. The current macroeconomic developments in the USA as well as in other regions of the world have features of a typical bust period that is characteristic of boom-bust cycles. In the boom period not only do prices increase but there is often also an asset price boom and credit boom. High asset prices serve as collateral for new borrowing. When a downturn starts, often initiated by a sudden bust, and frequently entailing long-term protracted periods of low growth and low employment, prices may fall and periods of debt deflation are often experienced.