Ever notice how 'ticking time bomb' keeps popping up when people talk about government debt? There's a reason—it hits different when you see the numbers. Global government borrowing has hit $100 trillion and counting. The kicker? It's growing way faster than actual economic output across most nations.

That gap between what governments owe and what their economies can generate is the real story here. It's not just fiscal policy talk anymore—this dynamic reshapes everything from interest rates to asset allocation. For anyone watching market cycles, understanding the debt trajectory matters. Governments will face pressure to act (or avoid acting), and that uncertainty feeds into broader market volatility.

The sustainability question isn't rhetorical. Either output grows to match the debt, policy shifts, or something else gives. That's why the comparison sticks around.