The Institute of International Finance has made another unpleasant announcement. Or call it a warning. The global debt hit a record of $247 trillion during the first quarter of 2018.
Global debt is up by $30 trillion since the fourth quarter of 2016 and $8 trillion since the fourth quarter of 2017. The zeros have taken on a life of their own as the world is facing records debts. The new and unprecedented record global debt equals 318 percent of global GDP. The U.S. now has a debt-to-GDP ratio of 101 percent, up one percent. Deficit spending under President Trump has increased considerably, which will need to be funded by 25 percent of U.S. GDP. With rising interest rates, borrowing will become costlier, and defaults will likely rise.
Canada, France, and Switzerland are seeing record high corporate debt, and household debt in Columbia, China, and Chile increased by 3 percent since the first quarter of 2017.
Governments, banks, corporations, and individuals are borrowing at a rate that they may not be able to repay, or only pay the interest of these debts. Developing countries, which have been showing signs of growth, are now looking at increasing debt of $58.1 trillion for the first quarter of 2018 and questionable credit. These emerging markets hold $900 billion in U.S. bonds, which are set to mature in 202. As the value of the dollars increases, so do the chances of default on those debts.
According to former derivatives trader Nassim Taleb, author of The Black Swan, global financial problems may have worsened since the crisis of 2007. Global debt has continued to increase, with a shift from household housing debt to corporate and government debt. The U.S. government’s gross debt has doubled since 2007. Household debt is approaching crisis level. Student loans are at a $1.5 trillion high, with approximately $33,000 student loan debt per student.
