<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> <P> Most economies started to recover by 1933--34 . However, in the U.S. and some others the negative economic impact often lasted until the beginning of World War II, when war industries stimulated recovery . </P>

Who was the hardest hit by the great depression