中新網(wǎng)北京10月13日電(蔣鯉)美國財政部最新數(shù)據(jù)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(chǎn)值，進一步逼近31.4萬億美元的法定債務(wù)上限。

據(jù)美媒報道，僅過去八個月，美國就新增了1萬億美元的債務(wù)。美國政府債務(wù)“野蠻生長”引發(fā)全球擔憂，若情況進一步惡化，另一場金融危機或?qū)⒌菆觥?/p>

美國彼得·彼得森基金會統(tǒng)計顯示，31萬億美元債務(wù)若分攤到美國民眾身上，則相當于每個家庭負債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(wù)。

隨著美聯(lián)儲激進加息，聯(lián)邦債務(wù)的利息成本也顯著上升。根據(jù)該基金會估算，隨著利率上漲，未來10年聯(lián)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(wù)。

近年來，美國政府推出多輪大規(guī)模財政刺激計劃，包括前總統(tǒng)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(guī)模減稅，并通過新冠救助法案、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(wù)。屢創(chuàng)歷史新高的國防預算開支，也加重了聯(lián)邦政府的債務(wù)負擔。

美國債臺高筑，而美國政府慣用提高債務(wù)上限的方式來緩解財政困境，政府借債支付利息，由此產(chǎn)生了更多利息和更多借貸，陷入了惡性循環(huán)。而美國兩黨頻繁將債務(wù)上限問題作為博弈的籌碼，降低了美國應(yīng)對財政挑戰(zhàn)的能力，引發(fā)投資者對美債違約的擔憂。

一旦美國債務(wù)違約，對美國自身而言，可能會面臨主權(quán)信用評級被下調(diào)、美元的國際儲備貨幣地位被削弱、潛在金融風險增多、經(jīng)濟復蘇受到拖累等多重風險。不斷攀升的巨額債務(wù)也將進一步限制美國在應(yīng)對氣候變化、下一次新冠疫情大流行，以及構(gòu)建包容性的經(jīng)濟等方面采取行動的能力。

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(mào)易等多個領(lǐng)域的震蕩和波動，影響全球經(jīng)濟復蘇進程，甚至引發(fā)另一場國際金融危機。

美國經(jīng)濟債務(wù)化已成常態(tài)，不斷攀升的債務(wù)正在透支美國的未來，也會為全世界帶來噩夢，美國政府應(yīng)當開源節(jié)流，盲目提高債務(wù)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.

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