28 Aug
Reduce your deficit or it will cost you! The warning has been launched by the most influential rating agencies, Standard & Poor's, the world's largest economy, the United States. The head of state in the notation "S & P, John Chambers, Thursday launched a thinly veiled threat to the U.S. Congress for rejecting measures to reduce the deficit, then the notes of the United States, the prestigious" Triple A "could be questioned.
The words of John Chambers, who presides over the rating of 118 countries, have weight. When Standard & Poor's lowers a note means that the state has more chance of bad repay its debts. The investor who buys debt of this state in the form of bonds, then will demand higher interest rates corresponding to the greatest risk. Ultimately, this greatly increases the cost of debt management for the country.
Rigor required
While the return approach, the warnings from rating agencies are increasing. The moment is critical: it is between September and December that states buckle their budgets for the coming year. France, recently lectured by the rating agency Moody's, in a report on the countries rated, has already introduced measures of rigor.
In the "Triple A", London is also in the crosshairs of Standard & Poor's. The notes of the United Kingdom is already "on negative watch" last step before a possible degradation. Despite an initial austerity plan in place before the summer, the government of James Cameron should show "a little more determination to fight against the deficit" in the next budget review in October, said John Chambers faxless payday advance .
How the states will fail
The austerity measures already submitted or planned do not really reassure the markets. In a note titled "Do not ask if the states will fail, but rather how," the U.S. bank Morgan Stanley, is sounding the alarm. Developed countries already burdened by debt levels as they can not take all their commitments, warns the author of the note, Arnaud Mares.
Pensioners, benefit recipients or taxpayers will be affected by the plans of rigor. "It would be dangerously optimistic to believe that in this context, investors will remain forever protected against loss of income that will affect everyone," said Arnaud Mares.
According to this former analyst at Moody's, the states will not officially bankrupt. They rather use "the financial oppression."Specifically, holders of government bonds will be subject to interest rates artificially low or downright negative, ie less than inflation.
Scoring Criteria
To determine a rating, a rating agency monitors both the debt level and growth of the country. If the debt is high and growth is weak, the state will have more difficulty in meeting its commitments vis-à-vis investors. On the one hand because the burden of repayments will weigh too large a share in its budget. On the other hand, because it may raise less taxes in times of prosperity, income taxes depending on the health of businesses and households.