Commodity markets deal in huge bulk quantities of actual products. This is different from the standard stock market since you are buying actual physical product, not a piece of a company. Commodities are often sold using a system called "Futures" Futures are just what they sound like. You are paying for a commodity today, at a price which it will not hit until later. EFFECTS of Great Depression-unemployment-companies lost outback invest cash-layoffs, 1933 13 million, "riding the rails" looking for work. Fear and Hoarding-saving lost no jobs, people start mattress, banking, stop spending no savings in bank, less cash in circulation less investment. Cities lost inunicipal funds-cities lost cash in stock emergency funds, no improvements, no roads, infrastructures, soup kitchens to feel homeless. Depression goes worldwide-many countries invest in US stock market and lost money from WW I. Germany in 1932 superhigh inflation. 1931 French 1.5 million labor strikes in Great Britain over standards of living. Banks stop giving credit-in fear of larger loses, companies who migh have survived w/small loans falter. Unemployment jumps. Less and less investment money out there. Movie Industry grows-cheap, affordable entertainment, tries to help people "forget", rapid growth, movie houses became "palaces" Families became separated-hard to raise large families, kids get "rented out" child labor increases. Jump in Farm Loses-droughts hits Midwest, dust bowl period. Drop in Corporate investment-big business pulls out of the investment market, no new products, advertisting, less business investment, lay offs , factory closures. CAUSES of great depression- World War I and Industry, Growth of Advertising, Buying on Credit, hard times for farmers, unseen causes: gap between rich and poor, poor corporate investment, weak banking system, risky foreign loans, overproduction, durable goods. MANAGING ECONOMIES AND THE IDEAS OF JOHN MAYNARD KEYNES- John Keynes was the first economist to press this view and has become the most influential economist since Adam Smith.