As an investor, you know that no investment is 100% safe. Nonetheless, bonds are considered good investments during a recession but produce lesser returns than inherently risky stocks.
More specifically, treasury bonds or t-bonds are considered one of the safest investments because of the aforementioned government guarantee that investors will receive the face value of their investment if they hold it to the maturity date.
Gold is also considered a safer investment during a recession because it is a safeguard against an economic crisis.
In addition, gold has an intrinsic value because it is a tangible asset. As a result, it is not as susceptible to volatility and dramatic changes in price as stocks.
Moreover, gold's value often increases during recessions as the value of currency decreases.