According to Luca Pacioli, a debt is equal to a credit and vice versa. If you owe someone $10 then you have a $10 debt and that person has a $10 credit. Money represents the connection between them. Therefore, debt + credit equals money. It's an easy concept to grasp, but one that is incredibly misunderstood. Throughout the debate about the public debt, only the debt is mentioned with no reference to the application of credit and money that has been created.