The Gold Standard and The History of Economic Development

The U.S. economy was in recession 52 percent of the time from 1874 to 1933, when the U.S. abandoned the gold standard. Since then, the economy has been in recession just 16 percent of the time.

"The Gold Standard Is Still A Really, Really, Terrible Idea" - The Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/04/david-stockmans-delusions-the-gold-standard-is-still-a-really-really-terrible-idea/274559/