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Debt Sustainability in Emerging Markets: A Critical Appraisal

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  • Yilmaz Akyüz

Abstract

This paper critically assesses the standard IMF analytical framework for debt sustainability in emerging markets. It focuses on complementarities and trade-offs between fiscal and external sustainability, and interactions and feedbacks among policy and endogenous variables affecting debt ratios. It examines current fragilities in emerging markets and notes that domestic debt is of concern. Despite favourable conditions, many governments are unable to generate a large enough primary surplus to stabilize public debt ratios. Worsening global financial conditions may create difficulties for budgetary transfers, posing greater challenges to government debt management since restructuring often is more difficult for domestic than external debt.

Suggested Citation

  • Yilmaz Akyüz, 2007. "Debt Sustainability in Emerging Markets: A Critical Appraisal," Working Papers 61, United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs.
    • Handle: RePEc:une:wpaper:61
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    Cited by:

    1. Mariolis, Theodore & Papoulis, Κostas, 2010. "Δυναμική Του Δημοσίου Χρέους, Οικονομική Πολιτική Και Κοινωνική Συνοχή Στην Ελλάδα: Μία Σημείωση [Public debt dynamics, economic policy and social cohesion in Greece: a note]," MPRA Paper 28551, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Mariolis, Theodore & Papoulis, Κostas, 2010. "Δυναμική Του Χρέους, ‘Δίδυμα Ελλείμματα’ Και Διεθνής Ανταγωνιστικότητα Της Ελληνικής Οικονομίας [Debt dynamics, ‘twin deficits’ and international competitiveness of the Greek economy]," MPRA Paper 23173, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Newman, Susan & Van Huellen, Sophie, 2022. "Understanding commodity markets to effectively address price increases and volatility in a post-COVID-19 world," Working Papers 70, Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    debt sustainability; emerging markets; crisis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • H68 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Forecasts of Budgets, Deficits, and Debt

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