Economics is still an "in-the-works" field of study. We still don't know how and when to properly accommodate the economy during times of crisis. Recessions are caused by a decrease in aggregate output or the total quantity of goods and services produced by a country, and they are real events. When aggregate output decreases, standard of living decreases, which is very important. This will lead to lower prices and, in most cases, job promoting reforms by the government in order to revive the economy (like hiring manual labor such as building roads). Why do we prioritize the economy? Because we live in a world with a global economy. One break in that link can affect everyone else, which is definitely the case in the recession currently. If you open a history book you'll see the reason most large empires fall is because of lack of understand in commerce and mercantilism (Rome, Spain, etc.)