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Sovereign Risk in the Classical Gold Standard Era

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  • Gavin Cameron
  • Kang Yong Tan

Abstract

This paper explores the determinants of sovereign bond yields during the classical gold standard period (1872-1913). Using the Pooled Mean Group methodology, we find that the main benefit of the gold standard can be seen as a short-hand device that enhanced a country`s reputation in international capital markets. By conveying important information to investors and enhancing the speed of adjustment of sovereign bond spreads to long-run equilibrium levels, the gold standard allowed country risk to be priced more effectively. In contrast to other studies, our results indicate that fundamental factors appear to be more important in determining a country`s creditworthiness in the long-run than the exchange rate regime per se.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by University of Oxford, Department of Economics in its series Economics Series Working Papers with number 258.

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Date of creation: 01 Mar 2006
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Handle: RePEc:oxf:wpaper:258

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Keywords: Gold Standard; Sovereign Risk; Heterogeneous Dynamic Panels; Pooled Mean Group Estimator;

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Cited by:
  1. Alfonso Arpaia & Alessandro Turrini, 2008. "Government expenditure and economic growth in the EU: long-run tendencies and short-term adjustment," European Economy - Economic Papers 300, Directorate General Economic and Monetary Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.

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