The national debt's 20-year deadline and baby boomers' spending problem
Economist Kent Smetters warns that the U.S. federal debt is approaching an unsustainable limit due to disproportionate spending on older generations. He suggests that current fiscal policies favor baby boomers at the expense of younger taxpayers, creating a long-term economic risk.
Why it matters
This analysis highlights a potential generational fiscal crisis that could force significant changes to social safety nets and tax structures in the coming decades.
Top economist Kent Smetters thinks the U.S. is on a 20‑year clock—and the tilt of the federal budget toward baby boomers is at the center of the story.
The article presents an economic model's findings without taking a partisan stance, focusing on fiscal sustainability.
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