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Sovereign Risk in the Classical Gold Standard Era

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  • PRASANNA GAI
  • GAVIN CAMERON
  • KANG YONG TAN

Abstract

This paper reassesses the determinants of sovereign bond yields during the classical gold standard period (1872–1913) using the pooled mean group methodology. We find that, rather than lowering risk premia directly, membership of the gold standard hastened the convergence of sovereign bond spreads to their long‐run equilibrium levels. Our results also suggest that investors looked beyond the gold standard to country‐specific fundamental factors when pricing and differentiating sovereign risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Prasanna Gai & Gavin Cameron & Kang Yong Tan, 2009. "Sovereign Risk in the Classical Gold Standard Era," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 85(271), pages 401-416, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecorec:v:85:y:2009:i:271:p:401-416
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4932.2009.00569.x
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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," EcoMod2008 23800006, EcoMod.
    2. Eichler, Stefan & Maltritz, Dominik, 2013. "The term structure of sovereign default risk in EMU member countries and its determinants," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 1810-1816.
    3. Maltritz, Dominik & Molchanov, Alexander, 2013. "Analyzing determinants of bond yield spreads with Bayesian Model Averaging," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(12), pages 5275-5284.
    4. Maltritz, Dominik & Molchanov, Alexander, 2014. "Country credit risk determinants with model uncertainty," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 224-234.

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    JEL classification:

    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions
    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N20 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - General, International, or Comparative

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