Debt Relief and Beyond: Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead (World Bank Publications)

Carlos A. Primo Braga,Dorte Domeland

ISBN 10: 0821378740 / ISBN 13: 9780821378748

Editore: World Bank Publications 2009-10-30, 2009

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Codice articolo 6666-IUK-9780821378748

Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Debt Relief and Beyond: Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead (World Bank Publications)
• Editore: World Bank Publications 2009-10-30
• Data di pubblicazione: 2009
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0821378740
• ISBN 13: 9780821378748
• Rilegatura: Paperback
• Condizione: New

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

The history of debt relief goes back several decades. It reveals that a country’s accumulation of unsustainable debt stems from such factors as deficiencies in macroeconomic management, adverse terms-of-trade shocks, and poor governance. Debt-relief initiatives have provided debt-burdened countries with the opportunity for a fresh start, but whether the benefits of debt relief can be preserved depends on transformations in a country’s policies and institutions.In 1996, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was launched as the first comprehensive, multilateral, debt-relief framework for low-income countries. In 2005, the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative was established, which increased the level of debt relief provided to HIPCs. As of early 2009, assistance through these two initiatives had been committed to 35 countries and amounted to US$117 billion in nominal terms, or half of the 2007 GDP of these countries.'Debt Relief and Beyond' assesses the implications of debt relief for low-income countries and how its benefits can be preserved and used to fight poverty. The chapter authors bring unique operational experience to their examination of debt relief, debt sustainability, and debt management. Several key questions are addressed, including, what consequences does debt relief have for poverty-reducing expenditures, growth, and access to finance? Can debt relief guarantee debt sustainability? How can debt management at all levels of government be improved? What lessons can be learned from countries that have experienced debt restructuring? Finally, this book provides sound empirical evidence using current econometric techniques.

Product Description

The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative is the first comprehensive multilateral debt relief framework for low-income countries. After 12 years of this initiative, 33 countries have qualified for HIPC assistance. Debt relief, associated with HIPC and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), introduced in 2005, amounts to US$117 billion in nominal terms, benefiting 33 countries - an amount that represents about 50 percent of these countries 2007 GDP. This book assesses the implications of debt relief for low-income countries and how the benefits from debt relief can be preserved in the future. It examines key question related to debt relief, debt sustainability and debt management: what are the consequences of debt relief to low-income countries for poverty-reducing expenditures, growth and access to finance? Can debt relief guarantee debt sustainability? How can debt management in low-income countries be improved? Which lessons can low-income countries learn from other countries that went through debt restructuring episodes? This volume attempts to answer these and other important questions.