The depression was in no small part based on the problem that the dollar at that point was still trapped in the gold standard, which created major market instability, the ruinous boom/bust cycles, etc. There also was no FDIC or other basic forms of insurance that serve as economic stabilizers now (hi Mt Gox).
Thankfully, the dollar we have today isn’t the dollar of the 20s.
While there’s interdependence between markets and currency values, the problems we have today are largely that the dollar is too stable, while we need inflation. That would put wealth in the hands of the poor and middle class and increase employment, but would result in rich people becoming poorer so the Fed. sacrifices the jobs and livelihoods of the lesser people to keep inflation in check to make sure the wealthiest can buy more mega-yachts and beach houses.
I was looking at Wall St. as an investment market, though, yes that’s not all it is.
