John Maynard Keynes was the first to show that government policy could be used to change aggregate output and prevent recessions by stabilizing the economy. Describe the economy of the world at the time Keynes was writing. Describe the economy of the United States today. What measures were being proposed by the Presidential candidates in the election of 2008 to prevent or end a recession in 2008-2009? Where the actions taken appropriate from the stand- point of John Maynard Keynes? Did they have the desired effect?