Most basically, the federal deficit has grown because federal spending as a share of the gross national product (GNP) has risen substantially since the 1960s, while federal revenues (primarily taxation) as a share of GNP have risen modestly.

• 从根本上来说，联邦赤字增加的原因是由于从60年代以来，耗用国民生产总值一部分的联邦政府支出增加得很快，而作为国民生产总值一部分的联邦政府收入（主要是税收）只是略有增长。