This analysis of the political economy of government debt is divided into two parts. The first part deals with theoretical issues. Topics covered include: behavioural aspects; long term debt strategy; the political economy of redistribution; a model of intergenerational redistribution; the relationship between social security and the deficit in the US; the consequences of endogenous technology; and budgetary and monetary issues related to European integration. The second part of the volume concerns empirical applications, including the empirical relevance of the notion of debt neutrality; the management of the nominal government debt; the global linkages between interest rates and public debt; functional finance; some positive theories of government debt; and suggestions for fiscal indicators.