In summary, by 1936 business cycle theory had reached a stage of sophistication at which all the theoretical problems attacked in The General Theory had been raised and various solutions proposed. However, there was no agreement as to the relative importance of any particular problem and no agreement as to its correct solution. Equally important was the inability to derive from the theories any agreed governmental policy to ameliorate the human suffering spawned by unemployment. The Great Depression of the 1930s had given this problem particular urgency.