<P> With the start of full - scale war mobilization in the summer of 1940, the economies of the cities rebounded . Even before Pearl Harbor, Washington pumped massive investments into new factories and funded round - the - clock munitions production, guaranteeing a job to anyone who showed up at the factory gate . The war brought a restoration of prosperity and hopeful expectations for the future across the nation . It had the greatest impact on the cities of the West Coast, especially Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle . </P> <P> Economic historians led by Price Fishback have examined the impact of New Deal spending on improving health conditions in the 114 largest cities, 1929 - 1937 . They estimated that every additional $153,000 in relief spending (in 1935 dollars, or $1.95 million in year 2000 dollars) was associated with a reduction of one infant death, one suicide, and 2.4 deaths from infectious disease . </P> <P> The Great Depression began in the United States of America and quickly spread worldwide . It had severe effects in countries both rich and poor . Personal income, consumption, industrial output, tax revenue, profits and prices dropped, while international trade plunged by more than 50% . Unemployment in the U.S. rose to 25%, and in some countries rose as high as 33% . </P> <P> Cities all around the world were hit hard, especially those dependent on heavy industry . Construction was virtually halted in many countries . Farming and rural areas suffered as crop prices fell by approximately 60% . Facing plummeting demand with few alternate sources of jobs, areas dependent on primary sector industries such as grain farming, mining and logging, as well as construction, suffered the most . </P>

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