[RobertoG]

I totally agree.

In a country with a balanced trade deficit (exports are the same that imports), in order to keep the economy working at the same pace, if the public debt is reduced, the private debt have to grow. As you said, it's an accounting truth.

So, when they don't distinguish between private and public debt they are just confusing the issue.

[jganetsk]

> In a country with a balanced trade deficit (exports are the same that imports), in order to keep the economy working at the same pace, if the public debt is reduced, the private debt have to grow. As you said, it's an accounting truth.

This is not precisely correct. It is more correct to say that if the public net worth decreases, the private net worth increases. Or, in other words, if the public sector runs a deficit, the private sector runs a surplus. And the flow of funds is conserved.

And net worth is assets minus liabilities, or savings minus debt.