I don't know where the CBO is getting their numbers for "net interest". I do have a good source for "gross interest", however. Since gross interest seems to be about double the net interest figures however, let me revise my previous calculations.
I would say that we have reached a tipping point if gross interest exceeds 40% of revenue. When will this occur?
First, here is the data on interest from http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm
Year Interest
2006 406
2007 430
2008 451
2009 383
2010 414
2011 454
For a projection, I use the CBO's numbers for net interest and double them:
2012 476
2013 526
2014 582
2015 672
2016 814
2017 968
2018 1090
2019 1182
2020 1264
2021 1326
If revenues increase by 5% thereafter, and interest increases 8%, then the 40% tipping point would be in 2036, when revenue is 10330 and interest is 4206.
I am obviously all over the board here in my numbers, but that doesn't change the fact that we do have a problem which won't occur right away.
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Update: The OMB's projections for net interest are much higher. If I use the same formula of doubling net interest to get gross interest, then the projections would be:
2012 480
2013 644
2014 842
2015 1010
2016 1168
2017 1322
2018 1460
2019 1596
2020 1726
2021 1856
The gross interest in 2021 of $1856 billion is 37.7% of the revenues in that year.
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Update 6/19/2012: This is model G-1. Model G is the theory that interest in excess of 40% of revenue is a tipping point.
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