The debt ceiling is attracting a lot more attention, especially after President Donald Trump labeled it a "mess" on Wednesday amid growing tensions within the Republican Party. We should expect the rhetoric to get even more heated in the days and weeks ahead.
It is unlikely, however, that this will lead to a technical default by the U.S. or a repeat of the 2013 government shutdown. Instead, the most likely outcome would involve a last-minute compromise that, while it would avoid immediate damage, is likely to add to the delays in implementing the economic measures that are critically needed to deliver higher and more inclusive economic growth.
Even though it has occurred 74 times in the last 55 years, the lifting of the debt ceiling has sometimes turned into a high-stakes political drama. In addition to bringing to the surface longstanding differences of opinion about the size of government and the dangers of debt, the process is complicated this time by the link to the financing of the president's controversial border wall. Moreover, differences over the whether, how and when of congressional approval — and Trump has already tweeted that a timely opportunity has been missed by the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill — are now playing straight into the worsening state of political posturing, blame games, and even more complicated and unpredictable games of chicken.
While a political accident is possible, the most likely outcome is that the administration and Congress will agree to an increase in the debt ceiling before the government runs out of financing flexibility at the end of September or the beginning of October. And for a simple reason.
