SEO has nothing to do with crisis. It is a part of online business or a strategy which helps to get good rankings.........economical crisis and SEO are not related in any way...
Its always positive as far as you have an online presence. But recession is some thing which affects all business ... So I am not sure SEO can save you from recession . but opportunities are there for SEO professionals.
SEO is about your websites and if there is crisis in your business market, Not even your online businesses (your websites) can escape from the crisis since it is just an online representation of your business.
Aggreed to this 100%.. It is not about the website that is being affected to the crisis but the business itself. Websites only represents the business not necessarily the site.