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A Global History of Debt By Region: Map from 1970-2010 (must see)
Credit Loan ^ | Unknown | Staff

Posted on 02/07/2012 3:07:13 PM PST by library user

Breakdown of how each region’s external debt around the world has evolved through the decades, starting back in 1970, all the way until today.

We all read about the U.S. national debt, and whether we should be concerned that it’s in the $12 trillion range these days. But the United States isn’t the only country carrying a huge amount of debt. In fact, it seems that operating just about any country is a money losing proposition.

According to the CIA’s Worldbank data, the majority of countries carry huge sums of national debt. And for most countries – although there are exceptions – that debt is constantly rising.

Look at Mexico: In 2000, the country had a $150.3 billion national debt. That’s miniscule by U.S. standards, yes, but, like the United States, Mexico’s debt is growing. Worldbank estimates that the country’s national debt has risen to $189.4 billion in 2010.

And Mexico is far from alone: Poland’s national debt has risen from $65.8 billion in 2000 to a much higher $185.2 billion in 2010. Hungary’s debt has jumped from $29.5 billion to $134.7 billion during the same time, a rather large bump.

Turkey, too, has seen its national debt soar. The country’s debt stood at $117.3 billion in 2000, but is estimated to be at $310.6 billion now. In India, the national debt has risen from $99.1 billion in 2000 to an estimated $204.5 billion in 2010.

Not all countries, though, are adding to their debt. Some have managed to slash their debt over the years. Brazil has seen its national debt fall from $239.2 billion in 2000 to $232.3 billion in 2010. Argentina’s national debt has dropped from a mark of $147.5 billion in 2000 to $132.7 billion today.

In all, though, most countries and regions have seen their national debts rise fairly steadily during the last decade. This might give some comfort to the people worried that the United States is growing its debt too quickly. Though to be fair to the critics, there is no country out there growing its debt quite as significantly as is the United States.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the U.S. total national debt has increased more than $500 billion each year since fiscal year 2003. This includes sky-high yearly increases of $1 trillion in fiscal year 2008 and $1.9 trillion in fiscal year 2009.

If the United States was a consumer, then, it would have long ago maxed out all of its credit cards.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: debt; globaldebt; historyofdebt
I thought this was a pretty crucial graphic (along with a decent detailed analysis) to post.
1 posted on 02/07/2012 3:07:17 PM PST by library user
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To: library user

I’d like to see it as a fraction of GNP, GDP, or even per capita and adjusted for inflation. I’m also not thrilled that they top out at $500B for a country, not when our annual deficit is more than twice that value and our debt is 30 times as big. That makes most national debts look equal, even when the differences are both huge and meaningful.


2 posted on 02/07/2012 3:14:52 PM PST by Pollster1 (Natural born citizen of the USA, with the birth certificate to prove it)
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To: library user

Here is a real joke

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2843357/posts

The only way to handle the debt is massive devaluation. A price increase of 2% is ludicrous. There will be universal devaluation to devalue the debt


3 posted on 02/07/2012 3:15:56 PM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 ..... Crucifixion is coming)
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To: Pollster1
I’m also not thrilled that they top out at $500B for a country, not when our annual deficit is more than twice that value and our debt is 30 times as big. That makes most national debts look equal, even when the differences are both huge and meaningful.

Very good point. The data in the graphic is also (based on the image URL) two years out of date.

4 posted on 02/07/2012 3:16:52 PM PST by library user
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To: library user

Are there any maps that put the debt into perspective of debt per person in a nation?


5 posted on 02/07/2012 3:19:42 PM PST by tbw2
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To: library user

This is one for the macro-econ. folks: If every country is in debt, where is all the money?


6 posted on 02/07/2012 3:21:30 PM PST by kosciusko51 (Enough of "Who is John Galt?" Who is Patrick Henry?)
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To: library user
Looks dubious to me. Parts of Europe have been in debt since WWII. Japan gained major debt in the 1980’s but isn't shown.
7 posted on 02/07/2012 3:21:50 PM PST by DB
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To: library user

http://www.gfmag.com/tools/global-database/economic-data/10394-public-debt-by-country.html#axzz1ljyFsuVn


8 posted on 02/07/2012 3:25:45 PM PST by DB
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To: library user
It was a Saturday Night Live skit.

Now it's real policy:

Inflation is Your Friend

Except that, this time; inflation is not reported.

9 posted on 02/07/2012 3:33:58 PM PST by cicero2k
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To: DB

Excellent - thanks!


10 posted on 02/07/2012 3:38:55 PM PST by library user
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To: library user

Well done!

It demonstrates the strategy that is currently underway......bankrupt the world and allow the socialists and islamists to take-over and fight it out for the end.


11 posted on 02/07/2012 5:24:37 PM PST by Erik Latranyi (When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)
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To: Erik Latranyi

exactly right


12 posted on 02/07/2012 6:02:43 PM PST by phockthis (http://www.supremelaw.org/fedzone11/index.htm ...)
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