Why the U.S. economy needs debt, according to some economists

The U.S. national debt hit nearly $33 trillion as of early September 2023. Every year since 2001, the U.S. government has spent more money than it takes in, which means it has to borrow money to make up the difference. The national debt is frequently discussed as a danger to future generations, but some economists say that, unlike household debt, there's no reason to get the national debt down to zero. Most economists warn, however, that there's a balancing act when it comes to the national debt.

Correction at timecode 0:11: The voice over has been updated to reflect the national debt grew $300 billion between July and September 2023.