With a fledgling recovery gaining strength, it is easy to forget how close major industrialized nations came to economic collapse less than two years ago, an outcome that almost surely would have triggered a worldwide depression rivaling the Great Depression of the 1930s.

VOA: standard.2010.04.21

But the economy was in ruins, falling faster with each passing day of the crisis that grew into the Great Depression.

VOA: special.2011.03.10

But during the Great Depression, Fred Allen had the idea of creating a series of complete stories and situations.

VOA: special.2009.03.09

The stock market crash marked the beginning of the Great Depression -- a long,slow,painful fall to the worst economic crisis in American history.

VOA: special.2011.02.17

He grew up during the Great Depression, one of the worst economic times in the United States.

VOA: special.2009.11.01

But the United States was going through the economic problems of the Great Depression.

VOA: special.2010.04.14

Together,the changes represent the biggest rewrite of financial rules since the Great Depression.

VOA: special.2010.07.23

He is an expert on the causes of the Great Depression.

VOA: special.2009.08.28

In November,11,000 jobs were lost. Mr.Obama says his $787 billion stimulus plan prevented a possible collapse of the financial system or a potential second Great Depression.

VOA: standard.2009.12.06