I recall a sci fi short story from decades ago — not much sci and probably more like sci fantasy.

America was in the grip of a severe depression. Gov’t analysts had figured out precisely when/where it began.

A couple had decided to forgo the purchase of a refrigerator. Looking at his sales figures, the appliance dealer had decided to postpone the purchase of the fishing boat he’d been talking to the boat dealer about. The boat dealer (looking at his numbers) … et cetera … et cetera.

The gov’t analysts went to Omaha (or wherever) and gave the couple the money to purchase a refrigerator. Within a few months, the economy was roaring again.

/it was a cute story, and OF COURSE I believed it could happen in real life