Table 5: Public Debt Per cent of GDP; 1999 ------------------------------------Italy 117.7 Belgium 114.1 Japan 105.4 Canada 86.9 Spain 70.4 Sweden 68.3 France 65.2 Netherlands 62.9 Germany 62.6 United States 59.3 Denmark 55.4 United Kingdom 54.0 Finland 44.9 New Zealand 34.8 Norway 34.3 Australia 31.3 ------------------------------------Source: OECD Economic Outlook, December 1999  I am not sure how fully aware international investors are of these excellent figures on growth, inflation, productivity, public debt, etc., so I have taken the liberty today of indulging in a bit of  BIS Review 46/2000  6  trumpet blowing.
One economic fact, however, that markets are aware of is that Australia always runs a substantial current account deficit and, therefore, is a net importer of capital.