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Sovereign Debt: Indexation and Maturity

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  • Laura Alfaro
  • Fabio Kanczuk

Abstract

In this paper we review the literature on sovereign debt with particular emphasis on indexation and maturity and the main policy proposals related to these topics. We also advance some implications derived from our work. In Alfaro and Kanczuk (2005a, b, c), we modeled sovereign debt as a contingent claim following the framework developed by Grossman and Van Huyck (1988). Our framework, however, recognizes that contingent debt might be associated with incentive problems. Applying this framework to the study of the sustainability of sovereign debt, the tradeoff between nominal and indexed debt, and the optimal debt maturity, we find some of the proposals advanced in the literature regarding lengthening debt maturity and issuing nominal debt to be unsustainable in emerging (volatile) economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Alfaro & Fabio Kanczuk, 2006. "Sovereign Debt: Indexation and Maturity," Research Department Publications 4459, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:wpaper:4459
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    Cited by:

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    2. Paloma Acevedo & Enrique Alberola & Carmen Broto, 2007. "Local debt expansion... vulnerability reduction? An assessment for six crises-prone countries," Working Papers 0733, Banco de España.
    3. Westerhout, Ed & Beetsma, Roel, 2019. "A comparison of nominal and indexed debt under fiscal constraints," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 177-194.
    4. Opazo, Luis & Raddatz, Claudio & Schmukler, Sergio L., 2009. "The long and the short of emerging market debt," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5056, The World Bank.
    5. Paloma Acevedo & Enrique Alberola & Carmen Broto, 2008. "Local debt expansion and vulnerability reduction: an assessment for six crisis-prone countries," BIS Papers chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), New financing trends in Latin America: a bumpy road towards stability, volume 36, pages 88-109, Bank for International Settlements.

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