Similarly, if a renewed US fiscal boost leads the UK's Government to think it can retreat from its stated path of fiscal austerity, it should think again. The balance sheet of America's banking sector amounts to one times US GDP. The UK's banking sector, in contrast, is no less than five times British national income. America can just about afford another bank bail-out – the UK simply can't. Any renewed fears about the systemic implications of the massive sub-prime losses still smouldering on Western bank's balance sheets would, in turn, raise fresh concerns about the UK Government's solvency – given the relative size of the required bail-out.