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U.S. Federal Debt Has Increased, but Appears Sustainable for Now

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Abstract

The unprecedented fiscal stimulus packages that Congress passed earlier this year provided timely assistance to households and businesses, but also led to a sharp increase in U.S. federal government debt. We find that the current net federal debt level of about 100 percent of GDP does not pose a threat to fiscal sustainability. Over a longer horizon, debt sustainability will depend, to a large extent, on whether the federal government can curb mandatory spending or raise taxes.

Suggested Citation

  • Huixin Bi & Wenyi Shen & Shu-Chun S. Yang, 2020. "U.S. Federal Debt Has Increased, but Appears Sustainable for Now," Economic Bulletin, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, pages 1-4, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedkeb:89066
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert J. Barro & Charles J. Redlick, 2011. "Macroeconomic Effects From Government Purchases and Taxes," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 126(1), pages 51-102.
    2. Huixin Bi & Wenyi Shen & Shu‐Chun S. Yang, 2022. "Fiscal implications of interest rate normalization in the United States," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(2), pages 868-904, May.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt

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