美国债务风险下埋着“定时炸弹”

Core Viewpoint - The total U.S. national debt has surpassed $37 trillion, indicating a rapid increase in fiscal burden and potential for a vicious cycle of debt due to the recently enacted "Big and Beautiful" tax and spending legislation [1] Group 1: Fiscal Policy and Debt Dynamics - The "Big and Beautiful" legislation marks a significant shift in U.S. fiscal policy, focusing on tax cuts, increased spending, and adjustments to the debt ceiling, which may stimulate short-term economic growth but poses long-term challenges such as uncontrolled debt and diminished dollar credibility [1][2] - The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the federal budget deficit will significantly increase over the next decade, potentially adding hundreds of billions to the deficit if certain tax cuts are extended beyond 2028 [1][2] Group 2: Tax Policy Implications - The permanence of existing tax cuts, such as maintaining the highest marginal personal income tax rate at 37% and accelerating depreciation for corporate investments, could lead to an increase in the deficit by hundreds of billions [2] - New temporary tax measures, including exemptions for tips and overtime pay from 2026 to 2028 and annual tax allowances for seniors, are expected to cumulatively add thousands of billions to the deficit over ten years [2] Group 3: Interest Payments and Sustainability Challenges - Current interest payments by the U.S. Treasury exceed $1 trillion, and if debt continues to grow, annual interest costs could increase by hundreds of billions to over a trillion by 2030, straining fiscal resources for essential services [2] Group 4: Historical Context and International Comparisons - Historical data shows that U.S. federal debt has increased from $10 trillion to $20 trillion post-2008 financial crisis, while economic growth has only risen by about 30%, indicating a concerning trend of debt growth outpacing economic potential [3] - International experience suggests that when debt-to-GDP ratios exceed 150%, repayment pressures intensify, and while the dollar's status as a reserve currency currently mitigates some risks, long-term fiscal sustainability is nearing a critical point [3] Group 5: De-dollarization Trends - The attractiveness of U.S. Treasury bonds is declining, leading to concerns about capital outflows as international investors shift towards higher-yield assets, with foreign ownership of U.S. debt dropping from 34% to 29% over the past decade [3][4] - Geopolitical tensions and energy policy shifts are accelerating global de-dollarization, with countries like Russia and China increasing local currency settlements in bilateral trade [4] Group 6: Economic and Social Implications - The expansionary fiscal policy may lead to higher inflation, forcing the Federal Reserve to maintain high interest rates, which could suppress investment and consumption, resulting in a "high debt—high interest—low growth" cycle [4] - Cuts to social welfare programs under the "Big and Beautiful" legislation may disproportionately affect low-income groups, exacerbating social inequalities and potentially leading to public discontent [5]