The U.S. has experienced large and growing current account deficits for more than 20 years, whereas Japan has experienced large and growing current account surpluses for roughly the same period. The US economy has grown at faster rates than Japan's over the past 10 years.

a. Use the relationship between the current account and GDP to explain the difference in growth rates between the two economies.

b. In trade negotiations with the Japanese over the large US trade deficit with Japan, the US administration has urged the Japanese government to undertake a more expansionary fiscal policy. Explain how this might affect the US trade deficit with Japan.