Watch: Riches to Rags: The Causes of Fiscal Deterioration Since 2001

Since 2001, the country has turned a modest surplus into a $1.7 trillion deficit, while the national debt has tripled as a share of the economy.

On Wednesday, January 31, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget hosted a virtual event on what caused this fiscal deterioration, based on our recent analysis, From Riches to Rags: Causes of Fiscal Deterioration Since 2001. The event featured a presentation by the Committee's Senior Vice President and Senior Policy Director Marc Goldwein on the tax and spending changes that have driven the growth in our deficits and debt.

The discussion took place on Zoom and included audience Q&A at the end. You can view a recording of the event here or below. You can find the slide deck from the presentation here.