The Fragility and Resilience of the U.S. Economy What Happens If the U.S. Economy Crashes? Over the years, the mighty U.S. economy has weathered several shocks, many perilously close to a total breakdown. A noteworthy incident was the 2008 financial crisis. On September 16, the Reserve Primary Fund "broke the buck." Investors, in a flurry,Impact of a Potential U.S. Economic Downturn