A period of prosperity

Origin

Before the dawn of modern economics, good fortune and abundance were often viewed as divine blessings or the unpredictable whims of fate. Societies experienced harvests that failed and others that overflowed, but these were typically seen as isolated events rather than phases within a larger economic rhythm. As nations industrialized and trade networks expanded, observers began to discern clear patterns: times when jobs were plentiful, wages rose, and innovation flourished, followed by inevitable downturns. This systematic observation gave birth to the concept of the 'period of prosperity'—a distinct, measurable epoch where wealth accumulated, living standards improved, and optimism bloomed, marking a departure from mere individual good luck to a collective societal advancement. It became the aspirational goal, the golden era to be prolonged and, after any slump, the promised land to be regained.