having the effect of checking or reversing fluctuations in the national economy or the finances of a business
When a country goes into recession, its public finances worsen, since tax revenuesfall and social spending rises. That is a good thing, because it acts as a countercyclicalforce.
countercyclical in American English
(ˌkaʊntərˈsɪklɪkəl)
adjective
designating or of fiscal policy that attempts to minimize extreme fluctuations in the business cycle, as by increasing spending and reducing taxes during periods of decline