Apparently Rapture had a recession/depression in the early 1950s as the result of city construction largely ending. Caused by some job loss/readjustments, but large disruptions of money flows to all the things (directly and indirectly) involved in that construction business. As mentioned before there were fewer than implied unskilled construction workers and more had transfer skills, but there still would be a labor glut as the construction shutdown and the supply pipelines ceased. Banks setup mortgages with security (building/holdings owned by the Bank if bankruptcy happens). --- --- --- .