The document discusses the high debt levels across advanced economies, with gross debt exceeding GDP in many countries. It notes that governments, households, financial institutions, and non-financial firms all carry heavy debt burdens. The document then addresses the need for an "age of deleveraging" to reduce debt loads through write-downs or austerity measures. However, it argues that austerity has slowed economic growth. The document concludes by stating that Europe needs more new businesses to regain economic dynamism and calls on readers to help build a more prosperous future for Europe.
3. Excessive Debt Levels
900 Gross debt in selected advanced economies, 2012 (% of GDP)
800
700
Financial Institutions
600
Nonfinancial Firms
500 Households
General Government
400
300
200
100
0
Source: IMF, DB Global Markets Research 7. november 2012 / page 3
4. Excessive Debt Levels
900 Gross debt in selected advanced economies, 2012 (% of GDP)
800
700
Pension Liabilities
600
Financial Institutions
500 Nonfinancial Firms
Households
400 General Government
300
200
100
0
Source: IMF, DB Global Markets Research, Freiburg Universit?t and own research 7. november 2012 / page 4
10. The Ugly and the Beautiful Way!
United States Euro area
104
103
102
101
100
99
98
97
96
95
94
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Real GDP, 2008 = 100
Source: OECD 7. november 2012 / page10