Charts Archive: Fiscal Solutions by the Numbers

 

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T

he Peter G. Peterson Foundation is committed to finding solutions to our nation’s long-term fiscal challenges, thereby helping to secure a strong economic future for all Americans. This archive features charts prepared by the Foundation that help to visualize many of today's pressing fiscal issues.

 

Attribution Policy:
If you would like to use any of these charts in your work, please credit the "Peter G. Peterson Foundation" and provide the pgpf.org website URL and hyperlink.

Peter G. Peterson Foundation Chart Pack:

The PGPF chart pack illustrates that budget-making involves many competing priorities, limited resources, and complex issues. In this set of charts, we aim to frame the financial condition and fiscal outlook of the U.S. government within a broad economic, political, and demographic context.
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Health Care

Medicare spending per beneficiary varies dramatically, even after adjusting for economic and demographic differences across regions
5/20/13
The baby boom generation will boost Medicare enrollment
5/1/13
General revenue is now the largest source of Medicare's financing
5/1/13
The Trustees continue to project growing Medicare costs under both projection scenarios despite the recent slowdown in healthcare spending
5/1/13
Medicare spending is a growing share of the federal budget
7/27/12
Medicaid finances about one-third of all home health and nursing home care spending in the United States
7/1/12
The number of visits made to specialists by Medicare beneficiaries in the last two years of life varies significantly by state
7/1/12
"Dual eligibles" make up about 15 percent of Medicaid enrollment but consume 39 percent of program spending
7/1/12
Total U.S. health expenditures (both public and private) are projected to soar to more than one-quarter of the economy by 2037
6/13/12
Federal spending on health care has grown dramatically since 1980. Between now and 2037, spending on federal health programs will double.
6/12/12
Populations are aging in many countries, including a number of emerging countries
6/2/12
Medicaid provides health insurance to low-income Americans. Children make up nearly half of the program's enrollment, but most spending is directed towards the elderly and disabled.
6/1/12
Elderly and disabled beneficiaries make up a majority of Medicaid spending
6/1/12
Although the U.S. spends more on health care than other countries, its health outcomes are generally no better
6/1/12
The U.S. performs a high number of CT exams compared to other countries
6/1/12
The U.S. performs a high number of MRI exams compared to other countries
6/1/12
If the United States could bring its health care spending in line with other developed nations, it could afford to more than double investment in R&D
6/1/12
Americans spend over twice as much per capita on health care as the average developed country
6/1/12
Over the next decade, as health costs soar to more than $4.5 trillion per year, government will pick up an even greater share of the nation's health care bill.
6/1/12
The population of the United States is aging rapidly. Soon we will be a nation of Floridas.
4/25/12
Medicare and Medicaid finance more than half of total nursing home care costs — and the share is increasing
4/1/12
One-third of American children are covered by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
4/1/12
Hospital expenses are the largest category of Medicare spending, but their share has fallen over time
4/1/12
Medicare covers more than 40 percent of the nation's home health care bills and more than 20 percent of most other health services
4/1/12
Out-of-pocket spending is declining as a share of national health spending
4/1/12
Nearly one-third of fee-for-service Medicaid benefits are dedicated to long-term care services
4/1/12
Almost three out of every ten Medicare dollars is spent on people who are in the last year of life
3/1/12
Medical spending increases rapidly with age
6/11/08
Increases in longevity have gone largely to high earners
1/1/07
The elderly population is growing rapidly
1/1/03

Spending

Projections of life expectancy have improved since 2008
5/1/13
Baby-boomer retirements will significantly increase the number of Social Security beneficiaries
5/1/13
Social Security has transitioned from annual surpluses to annual deficits
5/1/13
As the population ages, fewer workers will be paying taxes to support Social Security beneficiaries
5/1/13
The U.S. spent more on defense in 2012 than did the countries with the next 10 highest defense budgets combined
4/12/13
Mandatory programs and interest costs will be taking over more and more of the federal budget, crowding out important discretionary programs
4/10/13
By 2040, projected interest costs on the debt will be almost four times what the federal government has historically spent on education, research and development and infrastructure
4/1/13
Health care is the major driver of the projected federal spending growth over the long term
2/5/13
Nondefense discretionary includes many programs that could promote future economic growth
2/1/13
An increasing share of the economy's income has gone to the wealthy over the past 30 years
7/1/12
Stabilizing our national debt will not be easy. Doing it through spending cuts or revenue increases alone would require large policy changes
6/22/12
Corporate and individual tax expenditures—deductions, credits, and exclusions—are large in comparison to total income taxes collected, as well as to the government's major programs
4/1/12
Prior to the Great Depression deficits were unusual in the U.S. Budget surpluses occurred in over two-thirds of the years between 1800 and 1930
3/1/12
Growth in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have accounted for most of the increases in government spending since the 1960s
2/2/12
Growth in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have more than offset declines in defense since the late 1960s
2/1/12
Social Security can be put on a sustainable path with progressive reforms that protect low-income retirees
7/1/11
Interest Costs
6/1/11
Spending-only or revenue-only options would require very large changes in budget policy
6/1/11
Social Security is projected to run permanent cash deficits between now and 2033, totaling $2.7 trillion (in 2012 dollars), when the trust fund will be exhausted
6/1/11
Solutions Initiative Plans: Composition of Projected Federal Spending in 2035 (As a percentage of GDP)
5/1/11
Solutions Initiative Plans: Projected Federal Spending Levels in 2035 (As a percentage of GDP)
5/1/11
Low-income seniors rely on Social Security benefits for a major share of their retirement income
4/1/10

Taxes

The top 1 percent of taxpayers get 17 percent of the total value of major tax breaks
5/1/13
Individual income and payroll taxes comprise most of federal receipts
2/1/13
The composition of federal revenues has been relatively constant since the mid-1970s
2/1/13
Total tax burdens are lower in the U.S. than many other developed economies
11/1/12
Comparison of corporate income tax revenue across G7 countries
9/14/12
Comparison of statutory corporate tax rates across the G7
9/14/12
Corporate tax revenue vs. corporate tax expenditures, United States, 2011
9/14/12
Effective tax rates: income, payroll, corporate and estate taxes combined
4/18/12
Effective tax rates: individual income and payroll taxes combined
4/16/12
Effective tax rates: individual income taxes alone
4/16/12
The U.S. loses about as much revenue from tax expenditures as it receives in individual and corporate income taxes
4/1/12
Five individual tax breaks account for more than half of annual income tax expenditures
2/2/12
Tax expenditures–which will total over $1 trillion in FY 2012—disproportionately benefit the wealthy
2/2/12
Effective tax rates increase with income
2/1/12
High-income households earn a disproportionate share of pretax income and pay an even larger share of total federal taxes
2/1/11
The Bowles-Simpson Commission’s recommendations show that broadening the tax base by eliminating tax expenditures would permit lower tax rates and higher revenue
12/1/10

Fiscal Outlook

Deficits under current budget plans
4/10/13
Health spending under current budget plans
4/10/13
PGPF projects long-term debt would soar under the President’s budget policies after 2023
4/10/13
Ten-year health savings proposed in the President's fiscal year 2014 budget
4/10/13
Impact of President's Social Security proposals on annual benefits for an average wage earner retiring at age 65 in 2012
4/10/13
Federal debt under current budget plans
4/10/13
Compared to other major countries, the U.S. now has the lowest national savings rate
4/1/13
Total spending under fiscal year 2014 budget plans
3/19/13
Deficits under fiscal year 2014 budget plans
3/19/13
Comparison of fiscal year 2014 budget plans
3/19/13
Revenues under fiscal year 2014 budget plans
3/19/13
Medicaid and other health spending (excluding Medicare) under fiscal year 2014 budget plans
3/19/13
Discretionary spending under fiscal year 2014 budget plans
3/19/13
Defense spending under fiscal year 2014 budget plans
3/19/13
Debt held by the public under fiscal year 2014 budget plans
3/19/13
Discretionary spending is projected to decline well below historical levels under current law
2/8/13
The labor market will not be back to full employment until 2017
2/8/13
Debt held by the public is projected to remain high relative to historical levels
2/8/13
Federal deficits under current law, 2000-2023
2/8/13
Interest costs will be the third largest category of the budget in 2023
2/8/13
Health and Social Security are the major drivers of non-interest spending
2/8/13
Discretionary spending funds a wide range of government programs
2/1/13
By 2060, federal revenues will not even be sufficient to cover interest payments on the federal debt
2/1/13
Nearly half of U.S. debt held by the public is owned by foreign lenders
2/1/13
Discretionary spending funds a wide range of government programs
11/6/12
Discretionary spending is projected to go well below historical levels under current law
11/6/12
Discretionary spending funds a wide range of government programs
8/24/12
The federal deficit as a percentage of GDP, 2002-2022
8/24/12
Extending current tax laws has a significant impact on future deficits
8/24/12
Under current policy, federal debt is projected to approach 90 percent of GDP by the end of the decade
8/24/12
Under current law, GDP is projected to be below its potential level until 2018
8/24/12
Since 1800, U.S. debt held by the public has exceeded 60 percent of GDP (a maximum debt criterion used by the European Monetary Union) only during World War II
6/16/12
Federal revenue under current policy is assumed to rise to 18.5 percent of GDP, slightly above the average over the last 40 years.
6/15/12
The population of the United States is expected to age significantly over the next 25 years.
6/15/12
Projected spending on major health programs critically depends on excess health care cost growth.
6/15/12
Under current policy, slower economic growth would increase the projected growth in federal debt.
6/15/12
Revenues, spending, and primary deficits under current law and current policy scenarios.
6/15/12
Summary of current law and current policy scenarios
6/15/12
Debt under two scenarios
6/15/12
Future U.S. debt held by the public is projected to soar to unsustainable levels if current policies remain unchanged
6/2/12
Debt rises and falls with wars and changes in the economy. The projected levels of future debt would be unprecedented
6/2/12
All of the projected future growth in the federal budget will come from entitlements and interest costs
6/2/12
Federal entitlement programs are projected to more than double as a percentage of GDP under current policies
6/1/12
Although the incomes of the wealthy are volatile, they have grown much faster than those of other households
6/1/12
The U.S. national savings rate has declined significantly since the mid-1960s
4/12/12
Under current policies, state and local operating deficits are projected to more than double as a percentage of GDP, even after the economy recovers
4/1/12
Outlays under fiscal year 2013 budget plans
3/29/12
Revenues under fiscal year 2013 budget plans
3/29/12
Debt held by the public under fiscal year 2013 budget plans
3/29/12
Deficits under fiscal year 2013 budget plans
3/29/12
Comparison of debt under Chairman Ryan’s budget to other budget projections
3/21/12
Comparison of Chairman Ryan’s budget deficits to other budget projections
3/21/12
Under CBO's analysis of the President's 2013 budget, debt is still on an unsustainable trajectory
3/16/12
The President's policies would produce annual deficits that are higher than the CBO baseline but lower than CBO's alternative fiscal scenario
3/16/12
Deficits in the Presidents' FY 2013 budget are higher than those in the administration's September 2011 plan submitted to the Supercomittee
2/16/12
Discretionary spending in the President's budget drops below historical averages
2/16/12
OMB's long-run projections of Medicare spending are much more optimistic than CBO's
2/16/12
Deficits under the President's budget are higher than those under the BEA baseline, but lower than those under the adjusted baseline
2/16/12
U.S. dependency on foreign lenders to finance the public debt has risen sharply
2/1/12
Federal deficits are projected to remain high under current policy
1/12/12
Economic output (GDP) is projected to remain well below its potential until 2018
1/1/12
Federal debt held by the public is projected to surpass 90 percent of GDP by the end of the decade — threatening long-term growth
1/1/12
Rising and unsustainable government debts are serious global problems
10/1/11
Inequality has increased between the top 5% and the middle class
9/1/11
Depending on the baseline, federal debt could rise to as much as 77% of GDP under the Budget Control Act of 2011
8/1/11
Solutions Initiative Plans: Projected Federal Revenue Levels in 2035 (As a percentage of GDP)
5/1/11
Solutions Initiative Plans: Projected Federal DebtLevels through 2035
5/1/11
Solutions Initiative Plans: Projected Federal Debt Levels in 2035 (As a percentage of GDP)
5/1/11
Extending current tax laws has a significant impact on future deficits
1/1/11

Personal Responsibility

The U.S. personal savings rate fell sharply between 1980 and 2007 and remains low, at 4.6% of disposable income
2/1/13
Despite recent declines, U.S. household debt is still very high relative to disposable income
2/1/13
Since 1980 the share of total pre-tax income has sharply increased for the wealthy, but decreased for low income households
7/1/12
Discretionary spending is projected to go well below historical levels under current law
8/24/12
Discretionary spending is projected to go well below historical levels under current law
1/1/12
A Comparison of Fiscal Solutions Plans
12/3/10

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2013 Social Security & Medicare Trustees Reports: Chart Analysis
Michael Peterson on Social Security/Medicare Reports
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Summary: CBO's Analysis of President's FY 2014 Budget
2013 Fiscal Summit: Press Release
PGPF Provides $1 Million Grant to Newly-Established Rudman Center

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