Hagan, Sean, Obstfeld, Maurice, Thomsen, Poul M., (2017), “Dealing with Sovereign Debt—The IMF Perspective”, iMFdirect, 23 February
Debt is central to the functioning of a modern economy. Firms can use it to finance investments in future productivity. Households can use it to finance lumpy purchases, such as big consumer durables, or a home. Sometimes, however, firms’ investments do not pan out or a household’s main earner loses his or her job. Countries’ legal systems generally recognize that in these cases, debtors and creditors alike—along with society at large—may be better off if there is an orderly procedure for reorganizing debts.
Relevant Posts
- Brender, Anton, Pisani, Florence, Gagna, Emile, (2012), “The Sovereign Debt Crisis Placing a Curb on Growth”, CEPS, 15 May
- Forni, Lorenzo, Palomba, Geremia, Pereira, Joana, Richmond, Christine J., (2016), “Sovereign Debt Restructuring and Growth”, IMF Publications, Working Paper No. 16/147, 22 July