On paper, at least, this sizeable threat – involving blunt fiscal contraction amounting to some 4% of GDP – should have properly aligned incentives in Washington, DC. After all, no politician would wish to go down in history as being responsible for pushing the country back into recession at a time when unemployment is already too high, income and wealth inequalities are increasing, and a record number of Americans live in relative poverty.
至少从纸面上看，这一大威胁——其中包括最高可达GDP的4%的大规模财政紧缩——应该与华盛顿是激励相容的。毕竟，没有政客愿意在历史上留下在失业仍然高企、收入和财富不平等性不断加剧、创纪录的美国家庭陷入相对贫困时让经济重新打回衰退的名声。