America's Debt Paradox: Why Size Matters Less Than Structure The $39 trillion U. S. national debt might not be as alarming as it seems when compared to other countries like Japan and Singapore.
However, economists warn that its implications for economic stability cannot be ignored. The paradox at play here is that while the U. S.
has a relatively small debt to GDP ratio of 126%, its sheer size means it's still vulnerable to economic shocks.