Good and Bad Deficits

A deficit?

BERKELEY The United States is beset by four deficits a fiscal deficit, a jobs deficit, a deficit in public investment, and an opportunity deficit. The budget proposals put forward by presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, could reduce the fiscal deficit, but would exacerbate the other three.

Output growth in the US remains anemic, and the economy continues to face three significant deficits a jobs deficit, an investment deficit, and a long run fiscal deficit, none of which is likely to be addressed in an election year.

The Energy Deficit

Budget deficit

In fact, US trade deficits are primarily the result of insufficient, mainly government, saving not a misaligned exchange rate, as economists have led policymakers to believe. Large US budget deficits during Ronald Reagan s presidency generated the famous twin fiscal and trade deficits of the 1980 s.

The Sino American Trust Deficit

The Global Trust Deficit

Statement XLII (concluded)

(Signed) Jean Pierre Halbwachs

Timing the budget s release for just after the G 7 made for a harmonious London meeting in which both Americans and Europeans could claim that the US was taking care of business that is, its twin fiscal and current account deficits.

America s Misplaced Deficit Complacency

America s Three Deficits

Europe needs to make up its mind

Europe s Trust Deficit

Loving America s Deficits

3. Projected operating deficit

3. Projected operating deficit

However, the key objective of reducing the public deficit in 1996 was not met, 47 per cent actual compared to 38 per cent planned (actual deficit in 1995 was 57 per cent and in 1994 it was 47 per cent).

Better Red than Dead?

What is the Deficit Endgame?

3. Projected operating deficit

3. Projected operating deficit

3. Projected operating deficit

So, how should the US economy s jobs deficit, investment deficit, and long run fiscal deficit be addressed?

While it runs a large trade deficit with China, it also runs deficits with 87 other countries. A multilateral deficit cannot be fixed by putting pressure on one of its bilateral components.

It perpetuates deficit spending.

America u0027s Other 87 Deficits

Who Will Run the World s Deficits?

Closing America s Jobs Deficit

3. Projected operating deficit

Romney has provided few details about his deficit reduction plan. But, based on what he has revealed, we know that it would increase the jobs deficit, the investment deficit, and the opportunity deficit, with negative consequences for future growth and prosperity.

We have vast budget deficits.

Europe s Pointless Deficit Targets?

All Stimulus Roads Lead to China

The business is in the red.

3. Projected operating deficit (1 less 2)

The counterargument hinges on the difference between the current account deficit and the trade deficit. The current account deficit is equal to the trade deficit plus the cost of servicing the net international asset position the net rent, interest, and dividends owed to foreigners who have invested their capital in the US.

That is how the turnaround of the economy took place by reducing the fiscal deficit and converting the external balance of payments from deficit to surplus.

Fiscal deficits have been reduced by half in the past five years, and external current account deficits are down to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

3. Projected operating deficit (1 less 2)

The treasurer reports a deficit of 180,000 for the current year.

The US has a persistent overall trade deficit that fluctuates in the range of 3 6 of GDP. But, while the total reflects bilateral deficits with just about everyone, the US Congress is obsessed with China, and appears convinced that the primary cause of the problem lies in Chinese manipulation of the renminbi s exchange rate.

Every dollar is there in black and white... unless it goes in the red!