Economics Matters by Laurence Kotlikoff Podcast David Levey, former Head of Moody's Sovereign Risk Rating Team, Discusses U.S. Fiscal Insolvency -- Grab a Drink and Pull Up a Chair! 12 1 2 1× 0:00 Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -1:04:55 -1:04:55 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. David Levey, former Head of Moody's Sovereign Risk Rating Team, Discusses U.S. Fiscal Insolvency -- Grab a Drink and Pull Up a Chair! Larry Kotlikoff Sep 18, 2025 12 1 2 Share Transcript Back in May, Moody's joined the other two major U.S. debt-rating companies, S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Group, in downgrading US government debt. No surprise. Federal debt was close to 30 percent of GDP a quarter Century back. Today it's close to 100 percent and projected to exceed 150 percent by mid Century. No one is better positioned to discuss our nation's fiscal condition than David Levey. David spent almost 19 years servicing as Managing Director and Co-Head of the Sovereign Ratings Unit of Moody's Investors Service. Indeed, David is arguably the father of sovereign risk rating having developed country-credit analysis at Moody's. When David retired, he was credited by Moody's as having rated the official obligations of over 100 countries across the world. In addition, David has been involved in rating a host of foreign and domestic industry- and company-specific securities. David holds a BA in Economics from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Economics from Harvard University. Before joining Moody's, he taught at Yale, the New School for Social Research, and Wayne State University. He also served as Senior Economics Writer for BusinessWeek, Country Risk Manager for Wells Fargo, and President of his own risk-evaluation consulting company. David's had a long career sizing up failing states. The US is not a failing state, but is, it seems, working overtime to join that club. Please listen as one of our few remaining grownups in the room explains what our politicians know, but won't say -- our country is going broke hand over fist, with serious implications for how we all should you invest your money. Subscribe Share Share Economics Matters by Laurence Kotlikoff Your Best Investment Ever? Economic Matters - The podcast is hosted by Laurence Kotlikoff, a Boston University Economist, a NY Times Best Selling Author , President of maxifi.com , and Author of Money Magic . Stay Connected: Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify iHeart Amazon Music Discussion about this episode Comments Restacks Economics Matters by Laurence Kotlikoff Podcast Economics can make a massive difference - collectively and personally. Listen in as we chat with some of the most influential leaders in economics across the globe. Economics can make a massive difference - collectively and personally. Listen in as we chat with some of the most influential leaders in economics across the globe. Subscribe Listen on Substack App RSS Feed Appears in episode Larry Kotlikoff Recent Episodes Naill Ferguson, the Preeminent Economic Historian, Talks Geopolitics -- Yesterday's, Today's, and Tomorrow's Aug 10 • Larry Kotlikoff Jack Schibli of Lane Generational Explains Why the Stock Market Runs Largely on Autopilot and the Equity-Investing Danger this Presents Aug 2 • Larry Kotlikoff The Brilliant and Captivating Justin Wolfers Talks Economics and the Economy Jul 31 • Larry Kotlikoff Economics Matter's First Substack Live! Talking Social Security's Extreme Insolvency with Pam Krueger, Founder and CEO of Wealthramp, and… Jul 29 • Larry Kotlikoff Brilliant Investing Requires Thinking and Looking Outside the Box -- Steve Laffey Is an Extraordinary Investor. This is a Podcast You Can't… Jul 23 Economist John Goodman, Father of HSAs and One of America's Most Influential Policymakers, Talks US Healthcare Reform Jul 16 • Larry Kotlikoff Bruce Mehlman Joins Economics Matters to Discuss the Long-Term Economic Impact of the War in Iran, Geopolitics, Economic History, and His… Jul 2 • Larry Kotlikoff Sebastian Mallaby Returns to Discuss AI and his Latest Bestseller: The Infinity Machine. Jun 25 • Larry Kotlikoff