Have we seen something like this before? Part 3: Dot-com

With the lessons learned throughout history about the dangers of speculative bubbles, one might believe that they have become rarer over time. The opposite is true: we are seeing speculative bubbles with increasing frequency and with deeper, broader economic impacts.

One such bubble, known as the “dot-com bubble”, was characterized by several factors that contributed to the boom in technology stocks. These factors include:

1. Rapid growth of the internet: The growth of the internet was the driving force behind the dot-com bubble. The widespread adoption of the internet and the growth of e-commerce created new opportunities for technology companies and fueled demand for technology stocks.
2. Easy credit: Low interest rates and easy credit conditions made it easier for companies to raise capital and for individuals to invest in stocks. This contributed to the boom in technology stocks and fueled speculation.
3. Economic expansion: The late 1990s were a period of economic expansion and growth, with low unemployment and rising prosperity. This created a positive outlook for the future and increased investor confidence, which contributed to the growth of the dot-com bubble.
4. Hype around new technologies: The growth of the internet and the introduction of new technologies, such as the personal computer and the World Wide Web, created a lot of excitement and hype. This fueled speculation and led to a belief that technology stocks would continue to increase in value.

These factors combined to create a speculative bubble in the technology sector, with valuations of technology companies reaching extremely high levels.

Fallout

The economic fallout of the dot-com bubble was significant, with several key impacts:

1. Decline in technology stock prices: When the bubble burst, many technology companies were unable to meet their financial projections and went bankrupt, leading to a widespread decline in technology stock prices. This had a negative impact on investors who had invested in technology stocks, many of whom suffered significant losses.
2. Reduction in consumer and business spending: The decline in technology stock prices and the subsequent recession led to a reduction in consumer and business spending, as people became more cautious with their money. This had a negative impact on the broader economy and contributed to the slowdown in economic growth.
3. Increase in unemployment: The decline in technology stock prices and the subsequent recession led to an increase in unemployment, as many workers in the technology sector lost their jobs. This had a negative impact on the labour market and contributed to the slowdown in economic growth.
4. Negative impact on the stock market: The dot-com bubble had a negative impact on the stock market, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite Index declining by more than 80% from its peak in March 2000 to its trough in October 2002. This had a negative impact on investors and contributed to a loss of confidence in the stock market.
5. Slowdown in the technology sector: The dot-com bubble had a negative impact on the technology sector, with many companies going bankrupt and a slowdown in technological innovation. This had a negative impact on the broader economy and contributed to the slowdown in economic growth.

Although rough, the economic damage caused by the dot-com bubble paled in comparison to the Great Recession, which would greet the world just a few years later.