America's Debt Time Bomb

[Editor's Note: John Ince is the producer/director of a new documentary about America's debt crisis. For more information, visit TIME-BOMB.org.]

America's exploding debt is a ticking time-bomb. No one can say for sure what might trigger a crisis and when the bomb might explode, but this much is for sure: America's current level of borrowing is unsustainable.

America's debt crisis is reflected both in our exploding national debt and our astounding level of borrowing from foreigners, as measured in the current account trade deficit. Every day we fail to address these problems, we increase the chances that the country will be facing an economic crisis of major proportions. Yet few Americans are aware that anything is amiss. The mainstream media covers the issue intermittently, but because the debt increases incrementally, the issue lacks the sort of "crisis" banner that motivates editors and reporters. The lessons of history are clear: a nation's heavy borrowing from abroad is usually a precursor to decline. America's debt is also a moral issue, because we are in effect stealing from future generations. By borrowing so heavily today, we are hollowing out the foundation of America's economic future.

There are two components of America's debt time-bomb: the national debt and the current accounts trade deficit.

The national debt: When President Bush took office in 2000, the projected surplus for the U.S. government for the next decade was approximately $5 trillion. By fiscal year 2005 the surplus was entirely gone and the annual domestic deficits were at record levels, somewhere in the range of $350-450 billion depending on whose estimates you use. This is the most radical reversal of government finances in U.S. history. Today the national debt is approximately $7.9 trillion, and growing by over a billion a day.

The current account trade deficit: In the last 25 years America has gone from the world's largest creditor nation to the world's largest debtor nation. Today we rely upon foreigners to finance over 40% of our national debt. In fiscal year 2005 our current account trade deficit is on track to be almost $700 billion, which represents over 6% of our GDP. When America borrows from abroad to finance its domestic deficits, we give foreigners a claim to the financial assets of this country through either interest payments or a share of profits. Essentially America has been borrowing from abroad to finance our military buildup and war in Iraq. Should we continue to run current account deficits comparable to those now prevailing, the net ownership of the U.S. by other countries and their citizens a decade from now will amount to roughly $11 trillion.

Uncharted Territory

The globalization of financial markets has made it easier for American policymakers to engage in potentially dangerous borrowing patterns. Today there is a worldwide glut of savings, and because the United States is viewed favorably by global investors, we have been able to borrow from abroad without any appreciable pain.

But this is all based on a short-term perspective. Sooner or later America must begin paying foreigners back. Even with recent increases in interest rates, they remain relatively low by historical standards and inflation does not seem to be an major concern of policymakers in the short run. This state of affairs has perplexed many economists because, with capital flowing so freely across international boundaries, many of the traditional guideposts used by the Fed to gauge the economy have diminished relevance. If potential long-term problems are masked, the magnitude of an eventual downturn could be greatly magnified.

A confluence of factors could quickly create a downward spiral in the economy. Most likely it would begin when foreign investors lose confidence in America as an investment opportunity. Suddenly and traumatically, this would create a contraction of our economy.