Student loans. Medical bills. Mortgages. The national deficit. Debt touches so many parts of American life, from the individual citizen to the United States as a whole. A complex issue, debt can be alternately beneficial, such as when building credit, or it can do irreparable damage to a person's credit score, housing prospects, lifestyle, and more. The articles collected in this volume trace the issues that affect students, consumers, corporate entities, and the nation when it comes to addressing and managing debt. Media literacy questions and terms aid readers in assessing news coverage of the topic.

The student loan debt crisis -- Medical debt, insurance, and the government's role -- Mortgages, consumer debt and collection -- Corporate debt -- National debt.