The study analyzes the relationship between public debt and regional economic growth using peer-reviewed publications selected via the PRISMA framework. The literature synthesis suggested a negative relationship between high public debt and economic growth in both advanced, emerging and low-income countries. This relationship is predominantly pronounced in regions where institutional capacity is limited and debt management practices are deficient. Conversely, emerging markets exhibit weaker and more inconsistent effects, highlighting the necessity for country-specific debt assessments.  […]