From Toronto Terms to the HIPC Initiative: A Brief History of Debt Relief for Low-Income Countries
October 1, 1999
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Summary
The low-income country debt crisis had its origins in weak macroeconomic policies, and official creditors’ willingness to take risks unacceptable to private lenders. Payments problems were initially addressed through nonconcessional reschedulings and new lending that maximized financing while containing the budgetary costs for creditors. This led to an unsustainable buildup in debt stocks. More recently, debt ratios have improved, reflecting both adjustment and substantial debt relief. The paper estimates debt relief initiatives since 1988 have cost creditors at least $30 billion, and possibly much more. This compares with the estimated costs of about $27 billion under the enhanced HIPC Initiative.
Subject: Asset and liability management, Debt reduction, Debt relief, Debt rescheduling, Debt service, External debt, Financial institutions, Stocks
Keywords: cash flow, debt forgiveness, debt reduction, Debt reduction, Debt relief, Debt rescheduling, Debt service, discount rate, External Debt, Global, HIPCs, Low-Income Countries, Paris LIC Paris Club, present value, PV reduction, reduction option, Stocks, WP
Pages:
29
Volume:
1999
DOI:
Issue:
142
Series:
Working Paper No. 1999/142
Stock No:
WPIEA1421999
ISBN:
9781451856231
ISSN:
1018-5941
