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This paper estimates the determinants of external debt distress in low-income countries (LICs), disentangling the roles of institutions, shocks, and policies. The most prominent factors in raising the risk of debt distress are the weak protection of private property rights, adverse shocks to real non-oil commodity prices, and a high debt burden. Results also suggest that weak economic institutions tend to raise the probability of debt distress through persistently weak economic policies and high vulnerability to external shocks. The model enables a more granular analysis of debt sustainability in LICs and has a higher predictive power compared to the earlier scant literature.

Exports and Imports --- International Lending and Debt Problems --- International economics --- Debt sustainability --- External debt --- Debt burden --- Debt default --- Public and publicly-guaranteed external debt --- Debts, External --- United States

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Cabo Verde's risk of external and overall debt distress is rated "high" as in the previous debt sustainability analysis (DSA). The present value (PV) of public and publicly-guaranteed (PPG) external debt-to-GDP ratio breaches its threshold in 2019-2022 under the baseline and protractedly under stress test scenarios. The PV of total public debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to recede below its threshold from 2026 under the baseline and breaches its prescribed limit under stress test scenarios. The debt sustainability assessment is predicated on sustained fiscal consolidation and successful restructuring of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Prudent borrowing policies and a strengthened debt management strategy are critical to containing debt accumulation. In view of Cabo Verde's vulnerability to exogenous shocks, growth-enhancing structural reforms remain critical to bringing public debt to sustainable levels.

Debt Markets --- External Debt --- Finance and Financial Sector Development --- Public Sector Development --- Risk Assessment

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Analyzing public debt in low-income developing countries (LIDCs) is like solving a puzzle with many missing pieces. Forty percent of LIDCs have not published any sovereign debt data in the last two years. Public debt data disclosed in different publications show discrepancies of up to 30 percent of GDP across sources, and relative to the records of relevant authorities. Over 15 LIDCs have outstanding collateralized debt but no details of the collateralization are provided in official statistics. Restructuring of bilateral and commercial debt is often handled privately. All these problems have different origins and implications. Yet, they all amount to a lack of transparency. The international community has become acutely aware of the importance of debt transparency after recent cases of "hidden debt" The "Tuna Bond" case in Mozambique highlighted the dangers of inadequate debt transparency. In 2016 two large previously unreported loans totaling 1.15 billion US Dollars -equal to about 9 percent of the country's GDP-were revealed. As a result, donor support was frozen, the economy plunged, and the government was forced to make deep cuts in public spending. The biggest losers were poor Mozambiquans. Nontransparent public debt can quickly alter the lives of millions of ordinary citizens. This report is the first comprehensive assessment of debt transparency in LIDCs. It presents a complete picture of the current challenges and the pending policy agenda for all stakeholders. It draws upon new databases and surveys to take stock of key gaps in debt reporting, borrowing practices and legal frameworks, offering a detailed and timely view on the current state of debt transparency in LIDCs. It also synthesizes recent studies and policy discussions on debt transparency and offers practical policy recommendations required to further improve debt transparency in LIDCs.

Debt Markets --- Domestic Debt --- External Debt --- Finance and Financial Sector Development

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The risk of external and overall debt distress for Guyana remains moderate, but debt dynamics will improve significantly with the start of oil production in 2020. All external debt indicators remain below the relevant indicative vulnerability thresholds under the baseline scenario, which incorporates the average long-term effects of oil on economic growth, fiscal balance, and current account position. The PV of external debt-to-GDP is projected to decline to 3 percent over the long-term as the need for external borrowing is offset by the accumulation of external assets. Stress tests indicate the susceptibility of Guyana's external public debt in a very extreme shock which combines simultaneous shocks to real GDP growth, primary balance, exports, other flows (current transfers and FDI), and nominal exchange rate depreciation, as well as second order effects arising from interactions among these shocks. The combined effects of these shocks and their second order effects cause temporary but significant breaches in the external debt thresholds, prompting a moderate risk rating. Nonetheless, Guyana has substantial space to absorb these shocks, reflecting the current low level of external debt. Guyana's medium- and long-term outlook is very favorable given the incoming oil production and revenues, which will eventually underpin fiscal surpluses and a reduction in external indebtedness. The authorities reiterated their commitment in preserving fiscal discipline.

Debt Markets --- External Debt --- Finance and Financial Sector Development --- Public Sector Development --- Risk Assessment

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This joint World Bank/IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) has been prepared in the context of the 2018 Article IV consultation and first review of the three-year program supported by the IMF's Extended Credit Facility (ECF). It is based on end-2017 debt data and the latest methodology underpinning the LIC DSF, which triggered an improvement in debt indicator thresholds. External risk of debt distress in Burkina Faso remains moderate. All external debt indicators remain below the relevant indicative thresholds under the baseline scenario. In line with the Staff Report, the baseline scenario is anchored on an overall fiscal deficit of 3 percent of GDP from 2019. In a customized scenario meant to illustrate fiscal and external risks, two thresholds are breached. The overall public debt does not breach the relevant benchmark in the baseline and Burkina Faso is assessed as having a moderate risk of public debt distress, as the external debt risk rating is moderate. Burkina Faso would need to: (i) maintain a sound macro-fiscal framework; (ii) implement structural reforms to diversify its export base; and (iii) limit non-concessional borrowing to prevent a deterioration of its debt sustainability outlook.

Commodities --- Debt Markets --- External Debt --- Finance and Financial Sector Development --- Macroeconomics and Economic Growth --- Public Debt