âThere is an âunhealthy correlationâ between the building of skyscrapers and subsequent financial crashes,â according to Barclays Capital. Examples include the worldâs first skyscraper, the Equitable Life building in New York (completed in 1873 and coincided with a five-year recession), the Empire State building (the Great Depression was under way), Chicagoâs Willis Towerâformerly known as the Sears Towerâin 1974 (during an oil shock and when the U.S. dollarâs reliance on gold was abandoned), and Malaysiaâs Petronas Towers in 1997 (corresponding to the Asian financial crisis). Currently, the worldâs tallest skyscraper is the Burj Khalifa (built just before Dubaiâs financial troubles). China is the biggest builder of skyscrapers, with 53 percent of all the tall buildings in the world. JPMorgan Chase said that the Chinese property market could drop by as much as 20 percent in value in the countryâs major cities within the next 12 to 18 months. âOften the worldâs tallest buildings are . . . [a reflection of] a widespread misallocation of capital and an impending economic correction,â Barclays Capital analysts said.
Examine the correlational finding and provide plausible alternatives for their findings. (Hint: Just answer the question based on your own views. There are answers to this question online; however, many of them are correct.)