“戒不掉”的“债瘾”

Core Viewpoint - Major economies are trapped in a "debt addiction," with expansive fiscal policies leading them into a prolonged "debt test" [1] Group 1: Market Reactions - A global sell-off of long-term bonds began in late August, originating from Europe, with France's government facing a confidence vote raising doubts about its fiscal tightening plans [1][3] - The UK and Japan also contributed to the turmoil, with the UK facing budget concerns and Japan experiencing political instability, leading to rising long-term interest rates [1][4][5] - The UK’s 30-year bond yield reached its highest level since 1998, while Japan, France, and Germany also saw long-term rates rise to multi-decade highs [1][6] Group 2: Fiscal Challenges - The current market volatility indicates that fiscal expansion combined with rising inflation is becoming a core driver of sovereign debt risk [2] - Persistent high deficits have become the norm for major economies, with France not achieving a budget surplus since 1974 and Italy last achieving one nearly a century ago [7][8] Group 3: Structural Issues - The increase in long-term bond yields is attributed to both cyclical and structural factors, with inflation being a key determinant of short-term interest rates [14][15] - Structural "debt addiction" has emerged post-pandemic, with rising debt levels leading to two significant challenges: the increasing correlation between sovereign bonds and equities, and the rising long-term yield risk due to high government debt levels [17] - Aging populations and high debt burdens contribute to unsustainable fiscal pressures, exemplified by France's debt-to-GDP ratio of 114% and a significant portion of its deficit being foundational and difficult to reduce [18]