Name: ___________________________________________________________ PERIOD:________
MR. KRAUS
Economics
National and State Debt & Deficit
Task:
Your assignment is to access the following websites to answer questions about the National and State
Debt and Deficit. At the conclusion of your research will be a class debate to determine how both the states and federal government can reduce our debt.
Step 1:
Go to http://www.usdebtclock.org/ and answer the following questions:
1.
Go to the “State Debt Clock,” at the top-left hand corner of the screen. a.
What is Oregon’s current GDP? __________________ b.
What is Oregon’s state revenue
(How much money collected from state residents)? __________________ c.
Spending? __________________ d.
Debt? __________________ e.
Debt per citizen? __________________
2.
Take a look at three other states and complete the following chart:
GDP
Revenue
Spending
Debt
Debt per Citizen
3.
Return to the “US Debt Clock,” and answer the following questions: a.
What is the current US GDP? __________________ b.
What is the US federal revenue
(How much money is collected from U.S residents)? __________________ c.
Federal Spending? __________________ d.
National Debt? __________________ e.
National Deficit? __________________ f.
Debt per citizen? __________________

4.
Click the green arrow to go forward on the “Debt Clock Time Machine.” Select “2015 Current
Rates.” What is the National Debt expected to increase to by 2015?
5.
Take a look at three other countries and complete the following questions: a.
What two countries have the lowest GDP Debt Ratio? b.
What two countries have the highest GDP Debt Ratio?
Step 2:
Go to http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/ to determine how much money is collected and where it is spend at the local, state and national levels.
1.
Select “Pie Chart,” on the main page. Determine what percent and dollar amount was spend in the following sectors: a.
Protection: __________________ __________________ b.
Transportation: c.
General Government:
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________ d.
Other Spending: e.
Interest: f.
Pensions: g.
Health Care:
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________ h.
Education: i.
Defense: j.
Welfare:
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
2.
On the bottom left hand side of the screen select “Spending by State,” and click on Oregon.
Select “2013,” underneath the pie chart. Determine what percent and dollar amount was spend in the following sectors: a.
Protection: __________________ __________________ b.
Transportation: c.
General Government: d.
Other Spending:
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________ e.
Interest: f.
Pensions: g.
Health Care:
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________

h.
Education: i.
Defense: j.
Welfare:
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
If you could reduce the debt what would you do? How?
Be specific as far as what sectors you would reduce or cut funding for with an explanation justifying your decision.
Some items for you to consider:
Would you reduce/ cut funding for certain programs? If so, which ones? Why these?
What would likely happen to these programs?
Would you consider increasing taxes? By how much?
What do you think would happen to U.S. spending and the economy?