Calay News
As the deadline for a political agreement on the US government debt ceiling approaches, experts are considering various possible scenarios and their consequences. The US economy remains at risk due to the lack of consensus between the two major political parties to raise the national debt ceiling and free up funds to cover government spending and meet financial obligations.
Although House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden had a “productive” meeting at the White House, they were unable to reach an agreement. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned in a letter that resources to meet the government’s obligations could be insufficient as of June 1.
The Republicans are making the agreement conditional on cutting the budget deficit, while the Democrats are offering to raise taxes or reduce defense spending. The risk of the situation is that the country could face default if an understanding is not reached.
A default on US Treasury debt would have serious consequences, such as an economic recession, declines in stock prices, and a dramatic increase in the cost of credit. It would be the first time in the country’s history that a default has occurred, although most economists surveyed believe that a settlement will be reached before such an extreme is reached.
The experts offer three possible scenarios. In the first, a last-minute agreement is reached, but the uncertainty generated could lead consumers, investors, and businesses to cut back on spending, increasing the likelihood of a recession. In the second scenario, if negotiations drag on beyond the deadline, financial markets could react more severely, and consumers could cut back on spending, hurting the economy. In the third scenario, the lack of an agreement would lead to chaos in the global financial system, with huge repercussions for the economy and a recession more severe than that of 2007–2009.
In summary, the lack of an agreement on the US government debt ceiling poses serious risks to the economy, ranging from an economic slowdown to a possible debt default, which would have negative domestic and international consequences.
