USA - If the economy collapses, you would lose access to credit. Banks would close. Demand would outstrip supply of food, gas, and other necessities. If the collapse affected local governments and utilities, then water and electricity would no longer be available. As people panic, they would revert to survival and self-defense modes. The economy would return to a traditional economy, where those who grow food barter for other services. A US economic collapse would create global panic. Demand for the dollar and US Treasury's would plummet. Interest rates would skyrocket. Investors would rush to other currencies, such as the yuan, euro, or even gold. It would create not just inflation, but hyperinflation, as the dollar became dirt cheap.
How Close Are We to a Total Economic Collapse? Any of the following seven scenarios could create an economic collapse.
- If the US dollar rapidly loses value, it would create hyperinflation.
- A bank run could force banks to close or even go out of business, cutting off lending and even cash withdrawals.
- The internet could become paralyzed with a super-virus, preventing emails and online transactions.
- Terrorist attacks or a massive oil embargo could halt interstate trucking. Grocery stores would soon run out of food.
- Widespread violence erupts across the nation. That could range from inner-city riots, a civil war, or a foreign military attack.
- In March 2019, the Federal Reserve warned that climate change could threaten the financial system. Extreme weather caused by climate change is forcing farms, utilities, and other companies to declare bankruptcy.
- Natural disasters could cause a localized collapse.