The theory of "creative destruction" suggests recessions can be beneficial by purging unproductive firms and reallocating their resources to more efficient ones. The goal isn't to engineer downturns, but to allow this natural, cleansing process to occur when they happen.
Policies designed to avoid economic downturns at all costs can lead to significant long-term risks. Capital and labor become trapped in inefficient companies that would otherwise fail, hindering productivity growth and creating a less dynamic economy.
For many small poultry farms, year-round sales of chickens and eggs merely cover operational costs. The concentrated, high-volume demand for turkeys during Thanksgiving and Christmas is the critical event that pushes the entire year's operation into profitability.
Most people only review products they love or hate, creating a J-shaped curve of extreme opinions. Prolific reviewers are less prone to this self-selection bias, as they review more consistently. Their ratings provide a more balanced and trustworthy distribution of opinions.
On platforms where users review each other (e.g., Airbnb, Uber), ratings are often higher than on one-way platforms like TripAdvisor. This is driven by a social dynamic of reciprocity, a desire not to harm someone's business, and a subtle fear of retaliatory negative reviews.