"To cripple the economy" means to severely damage or weaken the overall functioning of the economy, leading to significant negative impacts on businesses, jobs, finances, and overall economic well-being. Full definition
But few in Gotham seem to realize that beyond the sphere of economic influence and affluence of the city is a world of dire economic crisis: boarded - up strip malls lining the upstate highways and byways and devastated cities with crippled economies, unable to support their own schools, much less subsidize ours. (educationnext.org)
Even central bankers are not immune to the desire for loss aversion, as they grapple with multi-billion-dollar decisions that could unintentionally cripple their economies. (schwabfunds.com)
They push people towards private credit, which could still cripple our economy if interest rates rise. (politics.co.uk)