Energy prices will do that. 1984 move preceded the 1986 oil...

Energy prices will do that. 1984 move preceded the 1986 oil price nosedive. You can substitute cycling and public transport for driving to cut prices. Electricity is much more integral for people than petrol in the modern world. But for coal it is more difficult. Coal is the foundation of economic growth both locally and internationally.

They need coal to power through the downturns for both manufacturing and construction. This is the case of the cure is the cause because higher coal consumption to get past the downturn leads to higher coal prices which feed the downturn. The only solution is investment and mine/infrastructure development at a rapid pace, which we are not seeing much of in the west or in western aligned nations.