this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2024
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Explain Like I'm Five
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The tax income of the government is a percentage of the GDP, and taxes are in the end where money for investments into infrastructure and other stuff comes from.
If investments must be done regardless, it means the government has to borrow money and pay it back plus interest in the future, which again is paid for with tax money.
So if the GDP sinks, future tax income must increase to balance it - either through an increase in GDP down the road, or through higher taxes.
A reduction in GDP also means that either local consumers aren't buying as much, or exports are shrinking, both of which are negative indicators for the local labour market and lead to layoffs.
It's important to note that most of the money borrowed by the US govt is in the form of bonds to its own citizens, and the interest paid is to those citizens.
The OP is talking about the UK though.
Good point and I missed that in the original post.
It does appear to be a similar situation with the UK though, only with pensions and other funds.