With U.S. debt above $40 trillion, the IMF chief warns that economic growth alone won’t solve the problem

(Credit: Lillian Suwanrumpha—AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. has a $40 trillion debt problem, and the leader of the IMF says supercharging the nation’s growth isn’t enough to solve it.

Speaking during the International Monetary Fund’s annual meetings in Bangkok this week, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said that while growth can ease the U.S. debt problem, it isn’t a catch-all solution.