‘Power curves’: What natural and economic disasters have in common

Parallels between the failures of man-made systems, such as the economy, and of similarly complex natural ones offer fascinating food for thought.
Executives, strategists, and economic forecasters, somewhat sheepish after missing the “big one”—last year’s global credit crisis—turned to the lexicon of natural disasters, describing the shock as a tsunami hitting markets and as an earthquake shaking the world economy’s foundations.

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Power_curves_What_natural_and_economic_disasters_have_in_common_2376