Kondratiev wave: overview of world economic cycles

With regard to the world economic and the euro area crisis has become actual problems of development of cyclic economy. The article is a historical overview of economic cycles, the theoretical basis and the last 41 years in the real world and the European Union (EU) economic development, which confirms the cyclical trends in the economy today. Changes from region to region is different, but they also have common characteristics. Theoretical generalizations are also given for the dynamics of mathematical models of economic development, trend lines. Regularities of change are complex, but it would be useful to know as well as politicians, business leaders and gather supplies for the bad times.