Sovereign Debt in Advanced Economies: Overview and Issues for Congress

Nelson, Rebecca M.

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Government debt;    Public debt;    Congress and public relations;    Debt;    Credit;   

RP-ID  :  R41838
RP-ID  :  R41838_2012Feb29

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Sovereign debt, also called public debt or government debt, refers to debt incurred by governments. Since the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, public debt in advanced economies has increased substantially. A number of factors related to the financial crisis have fueled the increase, including fiscal stimulus packages, the nationalization of private-sector debt, and lower tax revenue. Even if economic growth reverses some of these trends, such as by boosting tax receipts and reducing spending on government programs, aging populations in advanced economies are expected to strain government debt levels in coming years.