What America Does with Its Money ? 🇺🇸 Decoding America's Spending: A Deep Dive into Government Finances
This topic has been on the horizon for a while, and I think many new traders will be pleased to see it so LFG
Just like a business, the government has its own financial records :
💰 Money comes in (primarily from taxes)
💸 Money goes out (to fund a variety of programs)
With an expected gross domestic product (GDP) of nearly $29 trillion in 2024, the US remains the world’s largest economy, surpassing China’s $18.5 trillion.
However, the US government isn’t exactly profitable. In fact, it’s been consistently running a growing deficit, raising concerns about its long-term financial stability.
As a general election approaches, it's more important than ever to understand how the US generates and spends its money. So, let’s dive into the details
Here’s a quick overview:
- Revenue: A deep dive into taxes
- Spending: Powering the nation
- Bottom Line: Operating costs & the deficit
- National Debt: A mounting challenge
- The Future: America's financial outlook
1. Revenue: A Deep Dive into Taxes
The US government operates on an enormous scale, and like any large organization, it requires a consistent stream of income to stay functional. However, unlike businesses that sell products or services, the government generates revenue primarily through taxes and fees
In fiscal year 2023, the federal government collected an astounding $4.4 trillion
So, where does all of this money come from? Let’s take a closer look:
👥 Individual Income Taxes:Nearly 50% of the government’s total revenue comes from individuals. Every time you receive a paycheck, a portion is automatically sent to Uncle Sam. This also includes taxes on capital gains from investments.
🏦 Social Security and Medicare Taxes: About 36% of revenue is generated from these taxes, which support programs like Social Security and Medicare for retirees and older adults. It’s a system where current workers help fund benefits for those who have already retired.
🏢 Corporate Income Taxes:Around 10% of the total revenue comes from businesses, which contribute a portion of their profits to the federal government. This is reflected in the income tax provisions that companies report.
🧩 Other Revenue:The remaining ~4% is sourced from various channels such as excise taxes (extra charges on goods like alcohol and tobacco), estate taxes, customs duties, and even fees collected from national park visits.
2. Spending: Powering the Nation
Now that we’ve seen how money flows into the US Treasury, it’s time to explore the exciting part figuring out how it’s spent. The US government faces the enormous responsibility of keeping the country functioning, covering everything from national defense to healthcare and infrastructure. And that demands a massive amount of spending
In fiscal year 2023, the federal government's net cost was $7.9 trillion, which is almost as large as the combined GDP of Germany and Japan the world’s third and fourth largest economies!
-Outlays vs. Net Cost:In FY23, total outlays (the actual cash spent) reached $6.1 trillion. Outlays refer to the cash disbursements, while the net cost also includes accrual-based accounting adjustments, such as changes in the future value of federal employee retirement benefits.
Who’s Deciding Where the Money Goes
So, how does the government determine how to allocate all this money? It’s a balancing act involving both the President and Congress:
-The President’s Proposal: The President begins the process by proposing a budget, outlining spending priorities based on requests from federal agencies. Think of it as a wish list—with a lot of extra zeros.
-House and Senate Role:Next, the House and Senate Budget Committees take over. They review the President’s proposal, make adjustments, and ultimately create the final spending bills. This process involves hearings, debates, and a fair amount of political negotiation.
Types of Spending
-Mandatory Spending:These are legally required expenses, like Social Security and Medicare, which make up a significant portion of the budget. These costs rise over time, particularly as the population ages
-Discretionary Spending:This is the part of the budget where the President and Congress decide how much to allocate to areas like defense, education, and more. In FY23, discretionary spending accounted for roughly 28% of total outlays, and it involves a yearly struggle as various departments compete for funding.
-Supplemental Spending: In cases of emergency, Congress can pass additional funding outside the normal budget cycle, as it did for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Where the Money Goes
Now, let's dive deeper into the specific areas where all that spending is directed:
-🏥 Healthcare Heavyweight:The Department of Health and Human Services commands the largest portion of spending, making up 22% of the net cost. This reflects the huge outlays for healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
-👵 Social Safety Net:Programs like Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration also require significant funding, together accounting for 18% of the budget. This demonstrates the high priority placed on supporting veterans and retirees.
-🫡 Defense and Security:The Department of Defense, tasked with ensuring national security, takes up 13% of government spending!
-💸 The Interest Burden: A growing share of the budget is going toward paying interest on the national debt, consuming 9% of total spending.
In FY23, government outlays represented 22% of the US economy (GDP). Over the past decade, this figure has remained slightly above 20%, excluding the exceptional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Bottom Line: Operating Cost & Deficit
When government expenditures exceed its revenue, a budget deficit occurs
In FY23, the U.S. government recorded a $1.7 trillion deficit (revenue minus outlays).
Here’s a breakdown of two key financial terms:
-Net Operating Cost:This includes all costs incurred by the government, even if the payments haven’t been made yet. In FY23, the net operating cost was $3.4 trillion
-Budget Deficit:This is a narrower measure, focusing only on the cash difference between revenue and outlays. As mentioned, the FY23 budget deficit stood at $1.7 trillion
Both of these financial measures reveal a government consistently spending beyond its means—a pattern that has persisted for decades. In fact, over the past 50 years, the U.S. federal budget has only seen a surplus four times, with the most recent one occurring in 2001.
4. National Debt: A Mounting Challenge
So, how does the government continue operating despite being in the red?
It borrows money, mainly by issuing Treasury bonds, bills, and other securities. This borrowing adds to the national debt, which has grown into a major concern for the country’s economic outlook.
As of September 2024, the national debt has reached a staggering $36 trillion. To put that in perspective, it's as if every person in the US owes over $100,000!
Every time the government spends more than it earns, the shortfall is added to the national debt, which, in turn, increases the interest payments that need to be made in the future.
Why the Debt Keeps Growing ?
Several factors contribute to the relentless increase of the national debt:
-Persistent Deficits:For decades, the government has continuously spent more than it collects in revenue, leading to ongoing debt accumulation.
-Wars and Economic Crises: Significant events such as wars (like those in Iraq and Afghanistan) and economic crises (including the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic) often necessitate large government expenditures, further escalating the debt.
-Tax Cuts and Spending Increases: Policy decisions that either reduce government revenue (through tax cuts) or increase spending (by introducing new programs or expanding existing ones) also play a role in growing the debt.
The national debt presents a complicated issue without straightforward solutions. It requires balancing essential funding for programs and services while ensuring the nation’s long-term financial health.
5. The Future: America’s Finances
The road ahead is filled with challenges. The national debt continues to rise, with a debt-to-GDP ratio surpassing 100%, raising concerns about the nation's long-term economic stability and ability to fulfill financial commitments.
According to the Department of the Treasury, the current fiscal trajectory is unsustainable. Projections based on existing policies show a persistent gap between expected revenue and spending. Without substantial policy reforms, the national debt is likely to keep increasing.
Several factors will influence the future of America’s finances:
-Economic Growth: A strong economy generates higher tax revenues, making it easier to manage the debt. Conversely, slower growth could worsen the deficit and increase the debt burden.
-Interest Rates:Rising interest rates would elevate the cost of servicing the national debt, redirecting funds from other vital programs.
-Inflation: Excessive government debt can contribute to inflation, diminishing the purchasing power of individuals and businesses.
-Political Polarization: The significant partisan divide in U.S. politics complicates consensus-building on fiscal policy and the implementation of long-term solutions to address the debt.
-Demographic Shifts: An aging population increases pressure on entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, leading to higher government spending and potentially widening the deficit.
To tackle the challenges of growing debt and deficits, a combination of strategies is needed:
-Controlling Spending:Identifying areas for budget cuts or finding more efficient methods to deliver government services.
-Increasing Revenue:Exploring avenues for raising revenue through tax reforms or other means.
-Fostering Economic Growth:Implementing policies that promote sustainable long-term economic growth and boost tax revenues.
-Encouraging Bipartisan Cooperation:Seeking common ground across party lines to implement lasting fiscal reforms.
The future of America’s finances remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: addressing the national debt and ensuring the nation’s long-term fiscal health will require tough decisions and a commitment to responsible financial management.
What Can Be Done?
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of these challenges, but meaningful change often starts with informed citizens. As we head into a new election cycle, understanding how the US government manages its finances is more crucial than ever.
So, what do you think should be America’s financial priorities?
Should policymakers concentrate on cutting spending, raising taxes, or fostering economic growth?
