Figures for the Group of Seven (G7) countries other than Japan are the arithmetic averages of figures for Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Source: IMF. 1  Chart 2  I.
In fact, when the starting position of the defaulting country is a primary fiscal deficit, a marked move into a primary surplus is also required, as the country usually has no longer access to borrowing in the aftermath of a default.