Government intervention to prevent the failure of a financially distressed company, institution, or sector. The Troubled Asset Relief Program was a bailout in which the US government purchased toxic assets from banks to stabilize the financial system during the 2008 crisis.

When customers rush to with-draw their money from a bank that they believe may fail, potentially leaving it insolvent. During the Great Depression, bank runs were rampant, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was created to assure depositors that their funds were protected.

A sustained stock market slump. When the market falls by more than 20% from its peak, a bear market is declared; a decline of 10% to 20% is called a correction. Since 1928, the United States has seen 25 bear markets, 14 of which coincided with recessions.