This problem gets at the question of whether a government can run a budget deficit forever. For a government to avoid defaulting on its debt, it has to ensure its Debt/GDP ratio doesn’t get too big. Assume that ratio is not too big in the US right now, even though it’s about 100%. a) US nominal GDP has been rising by about 4% in recent years. Assume that continues. How much can US government debt rise each year in percent and keep the Debt/GDP ratio constant? b) If US government debt equaled $23 trillion at the start of this year, how big of a budget deficit could the US government run in dollars this year and still keep its Debt/GDP ratio constant?

ENGR.ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
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This problem gets at the question of whether a government can run a budget deficit forever. For a government to avoid defaulting on its debt, it has to ensure its Debt/GDP ratio doesn’t get too big. Assume that ratio is not too big in the US right now, even though it’s about 100%.
a) US nominal GDP has been rising by about 4% in recent years. Assume that continues. How much can US government debt rise each year in percent and keep the Debt/GDP ratio constant? b) If US government debt equaled $23 trillion at the start of this year, how big of a budget deficit could the US government run in dollars this year and still keep its Debt/GDP ratio constant? 

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