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Publications (10)
Journal Article
Reducing or writing off the debts of the 41 heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) can potentially reduce social conflict by releasing resources from debt-service to enable governments to make fiscal transfers that lower the grievances of rebels (when conflict is partly rooted in grievances over...
Previous UNU-WIDER research has shown that the risk of internal conflict is high in low-income societies rich in natural resources and characterised by ethnic fragmentation. Yet for each country in conflict there are many others with similar characteristics that are at peace. Understanding why some...
Working Paper
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This paper considers how the conditionality inherent in HIPC debt relief should be constituted to promote pro-poor policies. There are two dimensions to this. First, the extent to which the policies proposed are pro-poor. Second, the potential for releasing resources for pro-poor expenditures. The...
Working Paper
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– Theoretical Reappraisal of the HIPC Initiative
The objective of this paper is to examine debt dynamics of highly indebted poor countries (HIPCs) and identify key factors responsible for their protracted debt crisis. For this purpose, we first evaluate economic conditions of debt sustainability in the context of the intertemporal borrowing model...
Working Paper
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– Is there a Case for Debt Relief?
This paper investigates whether, and to what extent, the uncertainty with respect to the annual debt service payments may adversely affect economic growth of the group of highly indebted poor countries (HIPCs). We find supportive evidence for this hypothesis. Based on these results, we conclude that...
Working Paper
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– Arbitration as the Alternative to Present, Unsuccessful Debt Strategies
After analysing present, unsuccessful strategies of granting too little too late, a fair, transparent arbitration process (FTAP) on debts modelled after the principles of US Chapter 9 insolvency for debtors with governmental powers (municipalities) is needed. It would respect debtors’ sovereignty...
Working Paper
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– Context and Outlook for Debt Sustainability and Resource Flows
This paper analyses debt relief efforts by creditors to alleviate the debt burden of low-income countries. The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative builds on traditional debt relief, and for the first time involves relief on multilateral debt. It seeks to reduce debt to sustainable...
Working Paper
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– Analytical History of HIPC Debt Sustainability Targets
This paper traces the origins of HIPC debt sustainability targets. These targets are interpreted as ‘switching values’, below which countries are expected to avoid debt service problems, but as such, they do not take into account that countries encounter debt problems for a variety of reasons and at...
Working Paper
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Of the 41 HIPCs, 11 are classified by the IMF and World Bank as conflict-affected. Can debt relief reduce the level of violent conflict in these countries? By providing additional resources to finance broad-based public spending, debt relief could help to redress the grievances that contribute to...
Working Paper
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Warlords compete for turf that provides them with rents and ‘taxable’ resources but they can also offer a semblance of security within their respective territories. This article first examines two economic models of warlord competition. Because such competition takes place through the use of force...
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