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The Carrot and Stick Approach to Debt Relief : Overcoming Moral Hazard

Author

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  • Marin Ferry

    (PSL, Université Paris-Dauphine, LEDa, IRD, UMR DIAL)

Abstract

(english) Using an event-study framework, this paper empirically assesses the impact of debt relief on government's tax effort. Our results suggest that having reached the decision point leads to higher level of tax effort. But our findings also reveal that HIPCs' governments seem to adopt moral hazard behavior (especially when institutional quality is weak) since they deploy the bulk of their tax effort before the decision point in order to get debt relief and then loosen it as they come close to the end of the debt relief process. However, post-debt relief tax effort remains significantly larger than the level recorded before the anticipatory effects took place, thus emphasizing an overall positive effect of the Enhanced HIPC initiative. _________________________________ (français) Cet article évalue l'impact des initiatives d'allègement de la dette multilatérale sur l'effort fiscal des gouvernements bénéficiaires. Les résultats de cette étude indiquent qu'avoir atteint le “point de décision” de l'initiative PPTE conduit les gouvernements concernés à enregistrer un effort fiscal plus important que s'ils n'avaient atteint ce point. Mais des tests additionnels révèlent également un certain aléa moral de la part de ces derniers puisqu'ils semblent déployer l'essentiel de leur effort fiscal dans le but d'obtenir des réductions de dette avant de réduire progressivement ce même effort au fur et à mesure qu'ils s'approchent du “point d'achèvement” et donc de la fin du processus PPTE. Cependant, malgré ce relâchement, le niveau d'effort fiscal observé en fin de parcours reste supérieur à celui enregistré avant que l'effet d'anticipation ne prenne place, permettant ainsi de conclure à un effet global positif de l'initiative PPTE.

Suggested Citation

  • Marin Ferry, 2015. "The Carrot and Stick Approach to Debt Relief : Overcoming Moral Hazard," Working Papers DT/2015/14, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
  • Handle: RePEc:dia:wpaper:dt201514
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    Cited by:

    1. Ferry, Marin & Raffinot, Marc & Venet, Baptiste, 2021. "Does debt relief “irresistibly attract banks as honey attracts bees”? Evidence from low-income countries’ debt relief programs," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    2. Ferry, Marin & de Talancé, Marine & Niño-Zarazúa, Miguel, 2022. "Less debt, more schooling? Evidence from cross-country micro data," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 153-173.
    3. Marin Ferry & Marc Raffinot, 2019. "Curse or Blessing? Has the Impact of Debt Relief Lived up to Expectations? A Review of the Effects of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiatives for Low-Income Countries," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(9), pages 1867-1891, September.
    4. Marin Ferry, 2021. "Quel bilan tirer des initiatives d'annulation de la dette des pays pauvres très endettés ?," Revue d'économie financière, Association d'économie financière, vol. 0(1), pages 225-240.
    5. Marin Ferry & Marc Raffinot & Baptiste Venet, 2016. "Low Income Countries and External Public Financing : Does Debt Relief Change Anything?," Working Papers DT/2016/16, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    6. Maxime TERRIEUX & Benoît Jonveaux & Marin Ferry (Université Gustave Eiffel, DIAL), 2021. "Debt sustainability in Africa: state of play and future challenges," Working Paper 5b1b8e30-4a94-42f3-9e4b-9, Agence française de développement.
    7. Xu, Jiajun & Ru, Xinshun & Song, Pengcheng, 2021. "Can a new model of infrastructure financing mitigate credit rationing in poorly governed countries?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 111-120.
    8. Maxime TERRIEUX & Benoît Jonveaux & Marin Ferry (Université Gustave Eiffel, DIAL), 2021. "La soutenabilité des dettes en Afrique : état des lieux et enjeux futurs," Working Paper 5b1b8e30-4a94-42f3-9e4b-9, Agence française de développement.
    9. Marin Ferry & Marc Raffinot, 2016. "Réductions de dette, aléa moral et ré-endettement des pays à faible revenu," Post-Print hal-04258196, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Debt Relief; Tax Effort; Event-Study; Moral Hazard; Annulation de dette; Effort fiscal; Event-Study; Aléa Moral.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems
    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • H60 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - General

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