连平：特朗普能减缓美国政府债务增长势头吗？

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. federal government debt has surpassed $37 trillion, raising global market concerns, with the growth rate of debt showing both acceleration and deceleration trends [1][2]. Group 1: Debt Growth Trends - The U.S. federal government debt has increased from $4 trillion in the 1990s to $37 trillion, with its GDP ratio rising from 58% to 126.8%, indicating that debt expansion is outpacing economic growth [3][4]. - The time taken to increase debt by $1 trillion has significantly decreased over the years, from approximately 4.8 years during the Clinton administration to less than 0.5 years during the Biden administration [4][5]. - The COVID-19 pandemic and other crises have led to explosive short-term debt growth, with $7 trillion added in just two years during the pandemic [4][5]. Group 2: Recent Debt Growth Deceleration - In 2025, the growth rate of U.S. federal government debt unexpectedly slowed, with the increase from $36 trillion to $37 trillion taking nearly 9 months, compared to faster growth in previous years [6][7]. - Factors contributing to this slowdown include the debt ceiling hitting its limit, which led to a temporary halt in bond issuance and required the government to rely on cash reserves and tax revenues [7][8]. - The Trump administration implemented spending restraint measures and reduced the number of federal employees, which contributed to a temporary decrease in debt growth [8][9]. Group 3: Future Debt Projections - If the current trend continues, the U.S. federal government debt could reach $57 trillion in the next decade, with the time to add $1 trillion potentially decreasing further [5][12]. - The debt ceiling crisis and temporary measures taken to manage debt will likely lead to a significant rebound in debt issuance once the ceiling is lifted, with projections of net issuance reaching $1.3 to $1.5 trillion in the latter half of 2025 [12][13]. Group 4: Implications of Rising Debt - The increasing federal debt poses risks to U.S. fiscal policy, potentially leading to reduced public spending and increased pressure on social programs, which could exacerbate social tensions [18][19]. - The U.S. credit rating is at risk of further downgrades due to high debt-to-GDP ratios, which could increase borrowing costs and reduce market confidence in U.S. financial stability [19][20]. - The reliance on tariffs for revenue generation may not sufficiently address the growing fiscal deficit, as tariff income is significantly lower than the rate of debt growth [14][15]. Group 5: Global Economic Impact - The expanding U.S. debt could have significant negative spillover effects on the global economy, particularly impacting trade dynamics and financial market stability [25]. - Long-term, the weakening of the dollar and U.S. debt as "risk-free assets" may prompt reforms in global economic governance and monetary systems, encouraging countries to enhance their economic resilience [25].