LAS VEGAS -- The economy has been a hot topic for the candidates, but city officials are about to find out how resistant Las Vegas is to an economic downturn that -- some experts predict -- will become a recession.

The Strip took a hard hit in 1991 when the nation faced a credit crunch, housing crisis and war in the Middle East. Now in 2008, some economists said businesses are bracing for yet another recession.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, the local economy is now twice as dependent on conventions for tourism growth. That could become a problem because -- the paper said -- employers are most likely going to cut back on sending people to conventions and giving them expense accounts in response to the economic downturn.

Las Vegas has also become a more expensive place to play and live, analysts said, that would discourage budget travelers from visiting.

The national housing crisis and credit crunch are pummeling Las Vegas. New home sales in 2007 were down 45 percent from previous year and about 4,900 construction workers in the state were laid off in December.

But financial observers aren't panicking just yet. Analysts are counting on job growth fueled by new resorts opening to pull the Valley through.