National Debt

[Wharton]

How can every country be in debt at the same time, and if this is the case, to whom do they owe the money?

[Hopkirk]

The Arabs and China

[Wharton]

Arabs? China, both in debt

[DTCwordfan]

this is interesting - though missing China.

look at the UK to US balances....interesting.

this combines sovereign debt with banking debt, also interestingly so.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15748696

[dr b]

A good chunk of any country's bonds are held by its own citizens, for example insurance companies and pension funds are large holders of both UK and US debt. Nearly half of the US public debt is owed to the Federal Reserve, i.e., we owe it to ourselves. About 47% of US debt is owed to other countries (although it may be owed to private citizens or companies in those countries).

This article has a nice pie chart that shows who the UK debt is owed to.

http://ambervalleymat...uks-1-2trillion-debt/

[Wharton]

DTcrosswordfan
dr b
Thanks for responses & links

[Wharton]

My apologies Hopkirk, thanks for your reply

[Captain Spod]

I was rather hoping it was me.