We argue that a chronic US current account deficit is an integral and sustainable feature of a successful international monetary system. The US deficit supplies international collateral to the periphery. International collateral in turn supports two-way trade in financial assets that liberates...

Since 2001, foreign investors have acquired roughly $5 trillion in U.S. securities - more than doubling their holdings of U.S. equities and bonds - as both official and private inflows have financed record U.S. current account deficits. Although the rapid growth of foreign holdings of U.S....

This paper addresses three questions about the prospects for the U.S. current account deficit. Is it sustainable in the long term? If not, how long will it take for measures of external debt and debt service to reach levels that could prompt some pullback by global investors? And if and when...