[BrickFingers]

This was a great read.

Can someone explain how this translates for average American citizens? What have been the effects, if any, of consistently trading at a deficit since the 80s?

I've been trying to wrap my head around it, but it seems like there are so many factors at play that the effects aren't obvious.

My intuition is that maintaining trade deficits could cause inflation since US often needs to print money to service its debts. But, that only depends on consistent budget deficits. Inflation also depends on Fed rate somehow...Do consistent deficits increase housing prices? I'm lost..

I hardly know anything about econ. But, my gut feeling is that the effects of 40 years of trade deficits should be clearer than they are. It feels like maybe the status quo has been artificially propped up.