Accession Number:

AD1173449

Title:

United States Public Debt: Implications for National Security in a Competitive Environment

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Master's Thesis]

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Monley, Killian L

Report Date:

2022-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

95

Abstract:

The United States public debt has reached a value greater than the entire gross domestic product of the country. In addition, China owns a substantial portion of this debt. As China and the United States become increasingly competitive, what implications does the public debt have for U.S. security This thesis uses a range of qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover the degree to which public debt affects U.S. security efforts. The results show that the legislative response to public debt negatively affects funding for U.S. security efforts, that the U.S. dollar is an important mechanism in maintaining stable debt dynamics, and that debt adds to the interdependence of the U.S. and Chinese economies, which can shape national security decision-making. Debt has strategic implications for U.S. security interests. However, the United States has not sufficiently incorporated debt into its strategic policy. The risk of negative consequences increases by failing to understand the unique dynamics of U.S. debt and failing to ensure the debt serves desired ends.

Descriptors:

• united states government
• international relations
• governments
• national politics
• national security
• investments
• military budgets
• united states
• department of defense
• money
• political systems
• commerce
• monetary policy
• congress
• economic analysis
• federal budgets
• foreign policy

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science
• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Government and Political Science
• Economics and Cost Analysis

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]