US government debt isn't a crisis to Paul Krugman. The Nobel laureate has long argued that history and arithmetic suggest a crisis is unlikely. But does that hold true in other countries around the world? Can they live with the levels of debt that have become the norm, or is there a nasty shock or full-blown crisis in the offing? Krugman joins host Carmel Crimmins to talk global debt, spending and the politics driving decision-making. Plus, we take a ride on a Berlin commuter train for a real world look at the downside of balancing the books. Sign up for the Reuters Econ World newsletter here. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt out of targeted advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.