In previous cycles, a rise in the ratio of downgrades to total ratings changes has been a good predictor of rising default rates.

ECONOMIST: Buttonwood

As mentioned above, Troika debt-to-GDP estimates are said to have been raised and Greece, which has committed to bringing its debt down to 120% of GDP by 2020, will see that ratio rise past 180% next year.

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To bring the ratio of prices to rents back to equilibrium, either rents must rise sharply or prices must fall.

ECONOMIST: Global house prices

Many have suggested the high ratio of non-performing loans (NPLs) will continue to rise, eventually reaching unsustainable levels given government-forced lending.

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Today about a third of industry sales is outsourced, a ratio that will continue to rise, he predicts.

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By contrast, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research foresaw in July that the saving ratio would rise to 6.1% this year and 8.9% in 2010, resulting in a further fall in consumer spending next year, of 1.1%.

ECONOMIST: The return of thrift

Dr Bodenschatz then calculated the ratio of the highest points to the lowest points of both the real East-Pacific Rise and its wax model.

ECONOMIST: Geophysics

In exchange for this the US government receives a lower Debt-to-GDP ratio, which affords it the option of reducing its Treasury Bill exposure should interest rates rise.

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