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Emerging public debt challenges in sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Maureen Were

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)'s public debt burden remains a challenge to development. Key drivers of public debt include large-scale financing of infrastructure development, adverse impact of multiple shocks including COVID-19 pandemic, maturity mismatches, and high vulnerability to exchange rate and interest rate volatility. The tight financial conditions following interest rate hikes in advanced economies have exacerbated the debt burden and heightened debt sustainability risks. Half of the SSA low-income countries are either in debt distress or at high risk of it.

Suggested Citation

  • Maureen Were, 2024. "Emerging public debt challenges in sub-Saharan Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2024-36, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2024-36
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stefan Collignon, 2012. "Fiscal Policy Rules And The Sustainability Of Public Debt In Europe," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 53(2), pages 539-567, May.
    2. Maureen Were & Lekinyi Mollel, 2020. "Public debt sustainability and debt dynamics: The case of Tanzania," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-112, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
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    1. Badru, Ruth & Calef, Andrea & Ilori, Ayobami E. & Omoju, Oluwasola E., 2025. "Fiscal consolidation and asymmetric macroeconomic effects: Evidence from Sub-Saharan African countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).

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