The United States, Debtor Nation The United States is a debtor nation, just like the poorest states in Africa, Latin America and Asia. ... For most of the past 30 years the United States has been...

The United States, Debtor Nation


The United States is a debtor nation, just like the poorest states in Africa, Latin America and Asia. ... For most of the past 30 years the United States has been piling up large trade deficits. The current account ... has now reached a deficit of 6 percent of GDP, and must be financed by capital inflows. Foreigners must purchase large amounts of US property, stocks, bonds, bank deposits and currency, or the current-account deficit cannot be financed. ...

a. Explain why a current account deficit “must be financed by capital inflows.”

b. Under what circumstances should the debtor nation status of the United States be a concern?