Group 1: Government Shutdown Implications - The current government shutdown appears to be more prolonged due to a lack of communication between the parties involved, differing from historical instances where resolutions were typically reached quickly [2][3] - The president's potential aim to reduce the size of government could have a more significant impact on GDP than usual, as past shutdowns often resulted in backpay that mitigated economic effects [3][5] - The upcoming military payday on October 15th is a critical date, as both parties may want to avoid being blamed for not paying troops, which could prompt negotiations [4] Group 2: Economic and Credit Rating Concerns - The risk of a recession stemming from the shutdown is considered minor, as shutdowns are generally short-lived and spending delays are usually compensated later [5][6] - Credit rating agencies have already downgraded U.S. debt, citing shutdowns and political dysfunction, which raises concerns about U.S. fiscal governance [6][7] - Persistent dysfunction in Washington may lead rating agencies to question whether the U.S. can effectively utilize its resources to maintain credit ratings [7][8] Group 3: Fiscal Sustainability - The U.S. is currently on an unsustainable fiscal path, with uncertainty about what will trigger a necessary change, but a significant adjustment is anticipated when it occurs [8][9]

Economic Performance - During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's fiscal governance achieved significant results, including stable growth through active fiscal policies, with a cumulative tax reduction of approximately 10.5 trillion yuan, averaging over 2 trillion yuan annually[5] - The general public budget revenue as a percentage of GDP fell to 16.3% in 2024, down 1.4 percentage points from 2020 and 5.4 percentage points from the peak in 2015[5] - The general public budget expenditure reached 28.5 trillion yuan in 2024, a 15.8% increase from 2020[5] Fiscal Policy Adjustments - The average budget deficit rate from 2021 to 2025 was 3.3%, which is 0.4 percentage points higher than the average during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period[6] - The broad deficit rate during the "14th Five-Year Plan" averaged 6.5%, exceeding the previous period's average by 1.7 percentage points[6] Structural Changes - Fiscal policies shifted focus from supply-side to demand-side, enhancing consumer spending and supporting a transition from an investment-driven to a consumption-driven economy[7] - The average growth rate of public budget expenditures related to people's livelihoods was 4.3% from 2021 to 2024, surpassing the overall public budget expenditure growth of 3.7%[8] Risk Management - By the end of 2024, the national government debt balance reached 82.1 trillion yuan, with an average annual growth of 15.2% since 2020[9] - The local government debt-to-GDP ratio was approximately 35.2% at the end of 2024, with an estimated total debt ratio of about 43.0% when including hidden debts[9] Policy Execution - The central government's deficit accounted for 85.9% of the total budget deficit in 2025, an increase of 11.9 percentage points from 2020[16] - Central government transfers to local governments increased by 18.0% in 2022 compared to 2021, ensuring effective policy implementation[16]