97. Concerning the balance of international indebtedness, when is a country a net creditor or a net debtor?
A country is a net creditor when its claims on foreign nations exceed foreign claims on it. The
nation is a net debtor when foreign nations’ claims on it exceed its claims on foreign nations.
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic Reflective Thi – BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking
United States – BUSPROG: Promotion – BUSPROG: Analytic
United States – PA – DISC: International trade and fi – DISC: International trade and finance
Balance of International Indebtedness
98. How do we measure the international investment position of the United States at any point in time? How did the U.S.
become a net debtor nation so rapidly?
The international investment position of the United States is measured by the monetary value
of U.S. assets abroad versus foreign assets in the United States. Unlike the balance of
payments, which is a flow concept, the balance of international indebtedness is a stock
concept. The reason for the U.S. becoming a net debtor nation is that foreign investors have
placed more funds in the United States than the U.S. residents have invested abroad. The
United States has been considered attractive to foreign investors.
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic Reflective Thi – BUSPROG: Reflective Thinking
United States – BUSPROG: Promotion – BUSPROG: Analytic
United States – PA – DISC: International trade and fi – DISC: International trade and finance
Balance of International Indebtedness
99. What does a current account deficit mean?
When a country realizes a deficit in its current account, it has an excess of imports over
exports of goods, services, income, and unilateral transfers. This leads to an increase in net
foreign claims upon the home country. The home country becomes a net demander of funds
from abroad, the demand being met through borrowing from other countries or liquidating
foreign assets. The result is a worsening of the home country’s net foreign investment
position.