Essay on The United States Current Account Deficit

China has become a perceived threat to the U.S. economy because of the increasing trade deficit between the two countries, their ability to undercut production costs of similar products produced in the United States, and the amount of leverage that China has over the United States due to amount of money that has been lent by China. Although the United States has taken steps to close the trade deficit, such as convincing China to raise prices on their exports, there is still a considerable gap (Prasad). The United States government continues to print money that they simply can’t afford, therefore, relying even more heavily on China sustaining the value of their currency. Unless the United States is able to close the trade deficit and regain control of our economic flexibility, the problems caused by foreign countries owning our debt will remain eminent.

Many United States' citizens are unaware of the country's current financial state. Many assume that one of the world's wealthiest countries could never be in debt. This is untrue however, and, in fact, the country with the greatest income per capita is in major debt. This study will examine possible solutions to reducing the United States' national budget deficit.

“Ten Trillion and Counting,” presented by Frontline provides quite a picture of America’s national debt as it surpasses the trillion dollar mark. They ponder the financial well being of current and future retirees while also exposing on how America got into this mess, and what the Obama administration plans to do during his term. America is able to close the gap year to year in its national budget by selling bonds and T-bills. Foreigner countries who continually purchase these obligations are beginning to grow. Much like the Bush administration, the Obama administration has started borrowing big with plans to cut the budget years down the road. It is clear for anyone to see that this borrowing and the future promises of cutting cannot go

Australia’s net foreign debt to GDP ratio has grown dramatically during the period of globalisation. After rapid growth in the 1980s’ foreign debt stabilised at roughly 35% of GDP, this was party due to a higher level in asset sales being used to fund the CAD instead of increased debt. Debt began to increase again the late 1990’s, this was due to a decrease in the value of the Australian dollar, because most of our debt had been borrowed in foreign currency’s, the depreciation increased the Australian dollar value of our foreign debt. The slower rate of growth in debt and overall liabilities in the past few years reflect the lower level of current account deficits. The growth in net foreign debt has eased slightly since the global financial crisis of 2008-09 but is now around 50% of GDP.

Many Americans today are aware that the United States is in debt, however, some may not realize by how much. Currently, the United States National Debt is up to 18 trillion dollars and is steadily increasing. This is a serious problem for the U.S., especially for millennials, who are going to be the ones living and dealing with the debt left behind for them. Increased spending, borrowing from China, and interest on the money borrowed are setting up our economy for an eventual crash, one that the upcoming generation may not be prepared for. Every dollar that accumulates into the debt will have to be repaid with interest at some point, making it harder to pay back. To gain a better understanding of how the U.S. dug itself into such a deep hole, one should start at the beginning of where the debt started.

Why do countries keep loaning to the US? Despite of the fact that US is in debt, it is still one of the biggest customers in imports. Countries such as China and Japan are actually loaning US money to buy their exports. This situation is like a casino is loaning you money to play blackjacks; the house makes more money as long as you can pay back. The United States has a strong economy to support itself for good credits and therefore can keep on getting more loans.

They now exhibit a challenge in terms of debt, deficit and surplus. The national debt and deficit possess distinct definitions. The budget is the amount of money that the government works with within a given fiscal year and allocates to the different programs. The deficit is when expenditures exceed revenue and is added to the debt at the end of the year. In the last ten years we have experienced enormous deficits that may communicate to the international community that the United States might have trouble producing a balanced budget. This is an accumulative effect as the national debt is combined with the debt held by federal securities outside and inside the government and the public. Foreign country debt is included in the national debt as of March 8th tops $16 trillion dollars. Debt owed to foreign countries like China and Japan equates to a little over $1.1 trillion. Yet, despite the United States’ owing large amounts we are still considered financially sound because of our credit rating. According to Thompson from CNN Money, the United States’ credit rating is in jeopardy of being downgraded because of a weak debt ceiling (Thompson, 2013). This may increase the risk level of investing in the United States.

Since its inception, the United States of America has had fluctuating amounts of debt. High points usually follow in the wake of war or recessions, and low points usually occur in times of relative stability in the U.S. Recently, however, the United States has amassed over 18 trillion dollars in debt. The national debt has been rising steadily since the 1970’s and experienced a large growth around the year 2009. From the years 1929 to 2009, the Debt to GDP ratio was approximately 48 percent on average (excluding the years within the World War II era), while from 2009-2014 the Debt to GDP ratio was approximately 97 percent. This increase was most likely the result of increased defense/war spending, the Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Troubled Asset Relief Program. All of these events

The United States deficit contributes to its debt and the debt contributes to the deficit. We know the longest running uninterrupted surplus for the Unites States was from 1920 to 1930 but spent most of it combating the war. This will show how the U.S. deficits, debt, and surplus affect the following areas; the taxpayers, future social security and Medicare users, unemployed individuals, University of Phoenix students, The United States financial reputation on an international level, a domestic automobile manufacturer (exporter), and a Italian clothing company (importer).

Imaging yourself accepting you’re first credit card and immediately you begin to frivolously spend all the money your bank offers you. However, come to find out, you didn’t realize there was a consequence to your spending and now you are eagerly trying to pay back the money you owe with interest. Now take that scenario and apply it to our government spending in the United States. The author of “Going for Broke,” Michael Tanner, explains in his book the current financial crisis America is subjecting themselves to in the long run. Governmental officials of various political parties are turning blind eyes to the ever-increasing concern of stability in the United States. More of our taxing paying dollars are being used to chip away at an increasing debt that our government has no intent on fixing. The goal of this paper is to address Tanner’s issues with the growing economic deficit of the American people and its complacent government. Some questions Tanner emphasis on are: what can of debt does America have, where is the taxpayers' dollar being spent on, and what will happen to our economy if nothing is fixed?

National Debt in the U.S. has expanded rapidly throughout the years. In 2012-2015 it has increased by 70 percent. Most spendings are obviously spent by government in unnecessary facilities. Many people ask why is it affecting us and why has the government not issued a reform to solve it. This worries us because it doesn’t only involve an internal debt but a national debt as well.

During presidential bids for the White House and Congressional deadlines for increasing the debt ceiling, huge debates break out as to the enormous amount of debt incurred by the federal government. Throughout our nation’s history, national debt at this magnitude is a new things. The accumulation of this amount of debt has its consequences, especially when the debt hits the nations GDP (Gross Domestic Product), or the revenue the nation takes in per year.

The debt in the United States has been growing for decades and has accumulated all the way up to 19.9 trillion dollars. This amounts to 61,036 for each person living in the U.S, 157,735 for each household, 104 % of the U.S gross domestic product, and 546% of annual federal revenues. Tackling debt and deficits is a national security issue that affects our ability to compete in the international system. The proportion of U.S. government debt held by foreign entities has significantly increased.

Furthermore, the nation will go deeper into debt with the rest of the world as Americans continue to rely on the strong flow of foreign money, particularly from central banks in Asia, to finance the trade gap. China, Japan and other foreign governments are some of the biggest holders of government securities, lending money to cover the substantial federal budget deficit and helping to keep interest rates and home mortgage costs here relatively low. As a result, American consumers are able to spend more and save less.

It is often suggested that the large current account deficit poses a serious financing problem for the United States. Each year, the lament goes, the United States must attract net inflows of capital sufficient to "cover" the huge current shortfall. But this proposition gets the logic backward: the U.S. deficit is "financed" by net capital inflows only in an ex post accounting sense. In economic terms it is more nearly correct to say that net capital inflows cause the current account deficit. (p. 218)