Perhaps Student Loan Debt Really Is Not To Blame For Slow Growth?

Among many in the economics world, it's a forgone presumption that student loan debt is harming economic growth.

And the concern is not just for short-run economic conditions.  Rather, a graver concern is on the long-term effect student loan debt could have on the competitiveness of the American economy for generations to come.

These concerns, though, may just be another case of economists and elected officials needing something to talk about.

The Student Loan debt Universe

Before looking at student loan per capita and employment growth figures, here's a look at the universe of the student loans, based on data from the New York Federal Reserve.

Since 2003, the amount of debt held in the form of student loans has exploded...