Global Debt Surpasses $100 Trillion: Economists Warn of Looming Recession and Social Instability

June 14, 2025
Global Debt Surpasses $100 Trillion: Economists Warn of Looming Recession and Social Instability
  • To manage this looming crisis, three potential scenarios are being considered: defaulting on debts, transferring payments, or implementing austerity measures.

  • China's approach to managing its real estate bubble illustrates how shifting debt can postpone economic reckoning, but emphasizes that structural reforms are essential for long-term effectiveness.

  • The global debt crisis has escalated, with total sovereign and corporate debt surpassing $100 trillion, raising alarms among economists.

  • A staggering 40% of this debt is set to mature by 2027, intensifying concerns about future economic stability.

  • The potential for widespread defaults could trigger a global recession, resulting in severe economic losses and social instability, including the risk of revolutions and wars.

  • Transferring debt costs to specific sectors, such as through tax increases, could adversely affect consumption and economic activity, particularly for the middle and working classes.

  • Despite the potential role of technology, including robotics and AI, skepticism remains regarding their ability to resolve the debt crisis without necessary structural reforms to the economy.

  • While austerity measures might offer a managed approach, they typically involve reduced consumption, higher taxes, and diminished social services, resembling a controlled decline rather than an abrupt crash.

Summary based on 1 source


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The world’s debt problem

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