Debt intolerance

Reinhart, Carmen and Rogoff, Kenneth and Savastano, Miguel (2003): Debt intolerance. Published in: Brookings Papers on Economic Activity , Vol. 1, (March 2003): pp. 1-74.

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of “debt intolerance,” which manifests itself in the extreme duress many emerging markets experience at debt levels that would seem manageable by advanced country standards. We argue that “safe” external debt-to-GNP thresholds for debt intolerant countries are low, perhaps as low as 15 percent in some cases. These thresholds depend on a country’s default and inflation history. Debt intolerance is linked to the phenomenon of serial default that has plagued many countries over the past two centuries. Understanding and measuring debt intolerance is fundamental to assess the problems of debt sustainability, debt restructuring, capital market integration, and the scope for international lending to ameliorate crises. Our goal is to make a first pass at quantifying debt intolerance, including delineating debtors’ clubs and regions of vulnerability, on the basis on a history of credit events going back to the 1820s for over 100 countries.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: debt credibility credit risk default domestic debt dollarization sustainable
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F34 - International Lending and Debt Problems; F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F32 - Current Account Adjustment ; Short-Term Capital Movements; N - Economic History > N2 - Financial Markets and Institutions > N20 - General, International, or Comparative

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