Vespasian inherited an imperial deficit equal to five years of tax revenue

Evidence

Vespasian’s challenge was to stimulate growth and to reduce the deficit, which amounted to some four billion sestertii, equivalent to around 500 per cent of the empire’s annual tax receipts. — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 712

reduce the deficit, which amounted to some four billion sestertii, equivalent to around 500 per cent of the empire’s annual tax receipts — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 712

Categorization

• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 712