Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "rikicin tattalin arziki" yana nufin yanayin da tattalin arzikin ƙasa ko na yanki ya fuskanci koma baya ko kuma mummunan sauyi, yawanci yana da yawan rashin aikin yi, raguwar ayyukan tattalin arziki, faduwar kasuwannin hannayen jari. da kuma raguwar kasuwancin gaba ɗaya da amincewar mabukaci. Ana iya haifar da rikice-rikicen tattalin arziki ta hanyoyi daban-daban, gami da rashin kwanciyar hankali na kuɗi, bala'o'i, rashin kwanciyar hankali na siyasa, abubuwan tattalin arzikin duniya, ko wasu firgita na waje. Mummunan rikicin tattalin arziki na iya bambanta sosai, kama daga koma bayan tattalin arziki mai sauƙi zuwa matsananciyar baƙin ciki wanda zai iya ɗaukar shekaru masu yawa kuma yana yin babban tasiri ga rayuwar miliyoyin mutane.