The Guardian summed up the situation this way: “The recent flow of news from around the world suggests that the balance of world economic power may finally be swinging away from the United States—the powerhouse of the past decade or more—toward Japan and Europe …” (August 19).
An over-inflated stock market, $5.69 trillion national debt, $1.4 trillion consumer debt, $271 billion trade deficit, one million personal bankruptcies each year—these are not building blocks for a solid, stable U.S. economy.
America’s current account deficit, which is now in the neighborhood of $800 billion, is the trade deficit plus certain financial flows. We have this deficit because we import hundreds of billions more of goods and services than we export. Axel Merk, an investment fund manager, defines this deficit this way: “It is precisely the amount foreigners must acquire in U.S.-denominated assets to keep the dollar from falling” (Merkfund.com, May 23).
The oecd says this yawning trade imbalance will correct itself at some point. When that happens, it says it will “send shock waves across the globe, starting with a slump in the dollar’s exchange rate” (Forbes.com, May 23).
America is becoming less attractive to investors. Throw in soaring governmental and consumer debt, a deflating housing bubble, and the fact that the euro is now challenging the dollar for reserve currency status, and you have the perfect storm to drive foreign investors away.
2006-08-29 10:34:20
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answer #1
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answered by royal_crown78 2
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The European economies are in a recovery phase (the US is at risk of slowing down), the real interest rates are higher in the Euro area economies, and the trade deficit is much wider for the US- all this weighs on the US currency. The tipping point was that the Fed may have completed its tightening of interest rates.
2006-08-29 17:20:05
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answer #2
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answered by jmkeynes 2
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Because the US printing presses are printing money like crazy to finance the war on Iraq...
2006-08-29 17:22:08
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answer #3
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answered by kichka_2002 4
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because dude, the Brittish are trying to rule the world,
did you not watch V for Vendetta?
Hello, propaganda!!!!!
they use the Americans as their pawns to carry out their Evil plots of world domination,
seriously, theres a whole book about it!!!!!!
2006-08-29 17:23:08
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answer #4
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answered by punkrockprincess 4
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