IMF Says Government Debt Poses Biggest Risk to Growth

“The deterioration of fiscal balances and the rapid accumulation of public debt have altered the global risk profile,” the IMF said. “Vulnerabilities now increasingly emanate from concerns over the sustainability of governments’ balance sheets.”

Pacific Investment Management Co., manager of the world’s largest bond fund, earlier this year identified the U.S., Italy, France, Greece, Japan and the U.K. as economies sitting in a “ring of fire.” Each has debt above 90 percent of gross domestic product or the potential for it to rise there soon, slowing economic growth, Pimco said. Read more