Question

Suppose that a country has no public debt in year 1 but experiences a budget deficit of $50 billion in year 2, a budget deficit of $30 billion in year 3, a budget surplus of $20 billion in year 4, and a budget deficit of $2 billion in year 5. a. What is the absolute size of its public debt in year 5?

Answer 1

= $62 billion

Step-by-step explanation:

Since the country started year 1 with no public debt,

The country's debt at the end of year 5 = $50 (deficit year 2) + $30 (deficit year 3) - $20 (surplus year 4, negative deficit) + $2 (deficit year 5)).

= $62 billion

The country's debt at the end of year 5 = $62 billion

Public debt is the sum of deficits and surpluses (negative deficits) over time.