{
  "title": "Instruments of Debtstruction: A New Database of Interwar Debt",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, October 25, 2019",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689/index.md",
  "summary": "We construct a new, comprehensive instrument-level database of sovereign debt for 18 advanced and emerging countries over the period 1913–46.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Overview",
      "content": "- Authors: Nicolas End, Marina Marinkov, Fedor Miryugin\n- Publication date: October 25, 2019\n- Type: IMF Working Papers, Working Paper No. 2019/226, Issue 226, Volume 2019\n- Pages: 47"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Database construction and scope",
      "content": "- Coverage: 18 advanced and emerging countries\n- Time period: 1913–46\n- Instruments: some 3,800 individual debt instruments\n- Instrument-level data fields included:\n  - amounts outstanding\n  - instrument type\n  - coupon rate\n  - maturity\n  - currency of issue"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key substantive findings",
      "content": "- The interwar period was characterized by notoriously high debt levels.\n- Governments engaged in rollover practices that sustained debts that were largely unsustainable.\n- The external public debt network played a role in the collapse of the international financial system in the early 1930s."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Research uses and insights",
      "content": "- Instrument-level amounts and qualitative features provide unique insights into policies implemented in the interwar period.\n- Data facilitate analysis of:\n  - debt maturity structure\n  - coupon rate and rate of return issues\n  - central bank exposure and interactions with government debt\n  - how debt management practices influenced macroeconomic and financial stability during the interwar era"
    },
    {
      "heading": "Subjects and keywords",
      "content": "- Subjects: Bonds, External debt, Financial institutions, Government debt management, Public debt, Public financial management (PFM), Securities\n- Keywords: Bonds, central bank, central bank exposure, coupon rate, debt contract, debt management matter, debt management practice, debt maturity structure, Debt Policy, Economic History, Global, gold standard, Government debt management, longer-term maturity debt, Macroeconomics, maturity, Public Finance, rate of return, Securities, short-term debt, structure of debt, WP\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Working Paper\n  - Working Paper (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Working Paper (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Nicolas End, Marina Marinkov, Fedor Miryugin",
    "Published: October 25, 2019",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513514550.001",
    "Authors: Nicolas End, Marina Marinkov, Fedor Miryugin",
    "Publication date: October 25, 2019",
    "Type: IMF Working Papers, Working Paper No. 2019/226, Issue 226, Volume 2019",
    "Pages: 47",
    "Coverage: 18 advanced and emerging countries",
    "Time period: 1913–46",
    "Instruments: some 3,800 individual debt instruments",
    "Instrument-level data fields included:",
    "The interwar period was characterized by notoriously high debt levels.",
    "Governments engaged in rollover practices that sustained debts that were largely unsustainable.",
    "The external public debt network played a role in the collapse of the international financial system in the early 1930s.",
    "Instrument-level amounts and qualitative features provide unique insights into policies implemented in the interwar period.",
    "Data facilitate analysis of:",
    "Subjects: Bonds, External debt, Financial institutions, Government debt management, Public debt, Public financial management (PFM), Securities",
    "Keywords: Bonds, central bank, central bank exposure, coupon rate, debt contract, debt management matter, debt management practice, debt maturity structure, Debt Policy, Economic History, Global, gold standard, Government debt management, longer-term maturity debt, Macroeconomics, maturity, Public Finance, rate of return, Securities, short-term debt, structure of debt, WP",
    "**Working Paper**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "Working Paper",
      "role": "paper",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/wp/2019/wpiea2019226-print-pdf.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/wp/2019/wpiea2019226-print-pdf.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/wp/2019/wpiea2019226-print-pdf.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/10/25/instruments-of-debtstruction-a-new-database-of-interwar-debt-48689/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-18T15:59:33.340Z"
}
