Does The Deficit Really Matter?
The U.S. national deficit marked up some interesting news coverage these last few months. First up, was news at the total national debt hit $18 trillion earlier this year. Then, seemingly different news when a May report showed that the U.S. ran its largest budget surplus in seven years during April. What does all of this deficit stuff mean, and does the national debt really matter? (The government often runs a surplus in April; it’s when the majority of U.S. taxes are collected, so it is a larger than normal inflow of funds.) The Deficit vs The National Debt It is important to understand some terminology. First, the national debt, is the total amount owed by the United States government. Contrary to popular belief this debt is not owed “to China” or to any other government. Rather, the debt exists in the form of Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds (including those U.S. Savings Bonds your grandmother gave you). These all trade as securities on the open market. The Chinese government is free to buy them if it wants, and so are you, and anyone else. Owning these securities entitles you to an interest payment and the repayment of principal on a predetermined schedule. Neither …