The ongoing stalemate in Washington between Republicans and Democrats to forge long-term budget and deficit-reduction solutions has made international investors leery of American markets.

A new Bloomberg poll of 921 subscribers to Bloomberg Professional service revealed that 47% of global investors surveyed said they are reducing their investments in the U.S. as a direct result of “repeated confrontations between the U.S. Congress and President Obama.”

More than a third of respondents said the nation’s fiscal problems pose the biggest threat to the world economy, while 29% chose Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and 15% named China’s slowing economy.

Investors also indicated that they doubt President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans will agree this year on major changes to federal entitlement programs or to government tax policies.

Nonetheless, the United States still ranked higher than any other country as a place for investment opportunities.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

U.S. Budget Discord Is Top Threat to Global Economy in Poll (by David J. Lynch, Bloomberg)

Bloomberg Global Poll (pdf)

Bloomberg Poll Graph

What Jobs will be Lost if Congress Can’t Settle the Budget/Debt Crisis? (by Matt Bewig, AllGov)

Surprising Wasteful Clauses in the “Fiscal Cliff” Bill (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)