What would a government shutdown mean for markets and the economy?

A government shutdown could add another headwind to an already-precarious economy, but most analysts say that even a prolonged hiatus would have only a limited impact on the wider U.S. economy. With Republican and Democratic leadership at an impasse over the extension of health insurance subsidies, the U.S. government could temporarily cease operations at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday unless a deal is struck.