Definition:
Deficit panic is the amplification of fear around public debt to justify rapid or severe cuts.
Usage Context:
Used during economic downturns, budget crises, and election campaigns.
Critical Note:
Panic compresses debate. Long-term harm is accepted to resolve short-term political anxiety.
Related Terms:
Austerity Rhetoric, Moral Panic, Manufactured Crisis, Economic Precarity, Punitive Neutrality