中新網北京10月13日電(蔣鯉)美國財政部最新數據顯示，美國國債總額近日首次超過31萬億美元，遠超2021年23萬億美元的GDP總產值，進一步逼近31.4萬億美元的法定債務上限。
據美媒報道，僅過去八個月，美國就新增了1萬億美元的債務。美國政府債務“野蠻生長”引發全球擔憂，若情況進一步惡化，另一場金融危機或將登場。
美國彼得·彼得森基金會統計顯示，31萬億美元債務若分攤到美國民眾身上，則相當於每個家庭負債23.6萬美元，每人負債9.3萬美元。如果每個美國家庭每月貢獻還款1000美元，則需要19年才能還清所有債務。
中新社記者 沙晗汀 攝
當地時間7月27日，美國聯邦儲備委員會宣佈，將聯邦基金利率目標區間上調75個基點到2.25%至2.5%的水平，這是美聯儲連續第二次加息75個基點。美聯儲主席鮑威爾在會後的記者會上表示，雖然通脹數據仍然呈上升趨勢，但是目前經濟很可能處於數據尚未完全反映出貨幣政策收緊效應的時期，他認為加息和“縮表”實際上已產生了效果。 中新社記者 沙晗汀 攝
隨着美聯儲激進加息，聯邦債務的利息成本也顯著上升。根據該基金會估算，隨着利率上漲，未來10年聯邦政府在利息上的開支將增加1萬億美元，進一步推高美國債務。
近年來，美國政府推出多輪大規模財政刺激計劃，包括前總統特朗普政府約2.3萬億美元的一攬子支出法案。而拜登政府則大規模減税，並通過新冠救助法案、芯片法案和《通脹削減法》等一系列法案，帶來了大量新增債務。屢創歷史新高的國防預算開支，也加重了聯邦政府的債務負擔。
美國債台高築，而美國政府慣用提高債務上限的方式來緩解財政困境，政府借債支付利息，由此產生了更多利息和更多借貸，陷入了惡性循環。而美國兩黨頻繁將債務上限問題作為博弈的籌碼，降低了美國應對財政挑戰的能力，引發投資者對美債違約的擔憂。
一旦美國債務違約，對美國自身而言，可能會面臨主權信用評級被下調、美元的國際儲備貨幣地位被削弱、潛在金融風險增多、經濟復甦受到拖累等多重風險。不斷攀升的鉅額債務也將進一步限制美國在應對氣候變化、下一次新冠疫情大流行，以及構建包容性的經濟等方面採取行動的能力。
而美債危機帶來的不確定性將外溢到全球，增大全球在投資、貿易等多個領域的震盪和波動，影響全球經濟復甦進程，甚至引發另一場國際金融危機。
美國經濟債務化已成常態，不斷攀升的債務正在透支美國的未來，也會為全世界帶來噩夢，美國政府應當開源節流，盲目提高債務上限絕不是長久之道。
Burgeoning U.S. debt may jeopardize global economy
By John Lee
(ECNS) -- Data released by the U.S. Treasury Department shows that public debt in the country has surpassed $31 trillion for the first time ever, far beyond its gross domestic product in 2021 of $23 trillion, and is close to reaching the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling.
According to the U.S. media Quartz, a trillion U.S. dollars of debt was added just in the last eight months. The barbaric growth of U.S. debt has caused global concern over another financial crisis.
The $31 trillion debt is equivalent to $236,000 per American household and $93,000 per person, according to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. If every U.S. household paid $1,000 per month toward covering the debt, it would take 19 years to pay down the sum.
The country's radical move to increase interest rates is accumulating more interest payments. According to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, higher rates could add an additional U.S. trillion dollars to what the federal government spends on interest payments this decade.
Stimulus packages have been adopted by the U.S. government in order to revive the economy. For example, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package.
And the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act have added a large amount of debt. A high defense budget has also increased the debt burden.
Raising the debt ceiling is often used by the country to cope with its fiscal predicament. However, the federal government is now trapped in a vicious circle in which it borrows money and pays interest, which causes more interest and more borrowing.
The two parties of the country are used to fighting over the debt ceiling issue, which has lowered the federal government’s ability to respond to financial challenges and triggered investors’ concern about the potential default of the U.S. debt.
If the U.S. defaults on its debt, the country will face multiple risks. For example, its credit rating will be lowered, the U.S. dollar’s position as the world's dominant reserve currency will be shaken, and there will be potentially more financial risks.
In addition, the rising debt will further limit the country to take actions in dealing with climate change, the next round of COVID-19, and building an inclusive economy.
Uncertainties caused by its debt crisis will spread to the rest of the world, bringing more instabilities to investment, trade and other fields, which will encumber the world’s economic recovery and may trigger another financial crisis.
A long-term large-scale deficit jeopardizes the country’s future as well as the world economy. The U.S. government should increase revenue and reduce expenditure. Frequently raising the debt ceiling is not a sustainable solution.
