Economic impact of the public debt

Following the financial and economic crisis, there was a marked increase in the public debt of the euro area countries, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. In addition, without a change of policy, the public debt of those countries would maintain an upward trend, a key factor being the rising costs associated with population ageing. The article analyses the risks and implications of the expansion of the public debt currently evident in most of the advanced countries. The difficulties which certain euro area countries are experiencing in raising finance on the markets illustrate some of those risks. After outlining the movement in the public debt in the advanced countries in recent years, a simulation is produced in view of showing the future debt pattern in the absence of any change of policy. This exercise clearly highlights the potentially exponential growth of the public debt in most of the advanced countries. Next, the impact of the public debt on economic activity and inflation is examined. That impact appears to be very heavily dependent on the circumstances, which may vary greatly over time and between countries. When looking at the impact of the pattern and size of the public debt on economic activity, it is always important to distinguish between the short and the long term. Finally, the article sets out the need for fiscal consolidation and appropriate strategies for achieving that. The strategy focuses on three aspects: fiscal consolidation aimed at reducing the public debt, boosting the employment rate and productivity, and reform of the pension systems, health care and care of the elderly. For most of the advanced countries, large-scale reform programmes will be necessary in order to restore sustainable public finances. Some countries have already implemented consolidation measures, while others have yet to put most of the measures in place.