National debt

From dKosopedia

Category: Taxation and Finance

The cumulative total of all federal government budget deficits since the founding of the nation, plus accumulated unpaid interest, less the cumulative total of all federal surpluses.

If you were a country, the national debt would be analogous to your total, net indebtedness — the sum total of your credit card balances, unpaid mortgages, student loans, etc.

The national debt is measured in several ways: current dollars, inflation-adjusted dollars (to any particular year), and as a percentage of GDP. Economists also closely examine the rate at which the national debt grows or shrinks. Sometimes economists and budget experts also look at the national debt exclusive of certain accounts, e.g. the Social Security surplus.

The Democratic party has tended to increase the national debt less than the Republican party. Data

For information on the national debt Under President George W Bush, see Economy_Under_George_W_Bush.

External Link

• U.S. National Debt Clock - Providing a daily update on the national debt of the United States of America

• National debt by Presidential term

See Also

• Ronald Reagan