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The United States ranks last among all nations in the world when it comes to its current account balance, astronomically lower than every other economy, the CIA reports. According to the most recent figures in the CIA World Factbook, America sits at the bottom of 191 nations, with a listed account balance of an astonishing negative $561 billion.
You'll flip when you see list of nations performing better
The CIA defines current account balance as "a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified."
Topping the list on the positive side is China, with an account balance of $272 billion. It's followed by Japan, Germany, Russia and Norway. Rounding out the top ten are Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Singapore and Taiwan.
Greece, which has been making headlines for its financial problems for months and has seen economic-related violence escalate in recent days, is ranked at 180 with an account balance of negative $17 billion.
The U.S. is not at the bottom of every CIA list. In fact, it's ranked No. 1 in the world when it comes to external debt. With a whopping $13.98 trillion as of June 2010, the U.S. holds the dubious distinction of top debtor, just ahead of the European Union, whose debt is listed at $13.72 trillion.
Originally posted by anon72
And ATSers with some $$$ knowledge able to opine on this? IS is THAT BAD? or "don't worry about it... move along".
I say. It's THAT BAD.
This entry gives the total public and private debt owed to nonresidents repayable in internationally accepted currencies, goods, or services.
This is about slavery. Debt is slavery.