1. Assume that a nation is continuously running an external deficit of 2 per cent of GDP. In this economy, if the private domestic sector successfully saves overall, we would find:

A fiscal deficit (spending greater than tax receipts)
A fiscal surplus (spending less than tax receipts)
Cannot determine because we would need to know the scale of the private domestic sector saving as a % of GDP.

2. Given that government bonds constitute a component of non-government sector wealth, that sector's net worth rises if the government issues bonds to match its deficit spending.

3. While fiscal deficits rise due to the operation of the automatic stabilisers, these effects work in a counter-cyclical fashion to ensure that the government fiscal balance returns to its appropriate level once growth resumes.