Since lenders cannot observe the riskiness of the projects borrowers could choose, interest rates alone cannot be used as an instrument to discipline the borrowers. A credible threat to exclude borrowers who default more than a certain number of times from participating in the capital markets makes international debt contracts incentive compatible. Larger borrowers, since they get fewer chances to default, choose safer proejcts and are therefore charged smaller interest rates. Also, borrowers, after each successive default swtich to safer and safer projects which may result in smaller and smaller interest rates. This paper provides empirical evidence supporting these two predictions.
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Peter H. Lindert & Peter J. Morton, 1989.
"How Sovereign Debt Has Worked,"
NBER Chapters,
in: Developing Country Debt and Economic Performance, Volume 1: The International Financial System, pages 39-106
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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Peter H. Lindert & Peter J. Morton, 1989.
"How Sovereign Debt Has Worked,"
NBER Chapters,
in: Developing Country Debt and the World Economy, pages 225-236
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
[Downloadable!]
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