The Wall Street Journal analyzes that despite many governments appearing more fiscally prudent than the United States, aging populations and sluggish economic growth mean the global debt problem remains severe, a challenge that even the boost from artificial intelligence may not fully alleviate. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Japan's budget deficit this year will be the smallest among the Group of Seven (G7) for the third consecutive year, at approximately 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP).