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The Sustainability of European External Debt: What have We Learned?

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  • Juan Carlos Cuestas
  • Luis A. Gil-Alana
  • Paulo José Regis

Abstract

In this paper we aim to analyze the level of sustainability of external debt and, more importantly, how it has changed for a number of European economies. Given the severity of the crisis since 2008, we argue that the path of external debt burdens may have changed since the start of the crisis, given the concerns about debt accumulation in most countries. We analyze the reaction of present debt accumulation to past debt stock, incorporating the possibility of endogenously determined structural breaks in this reaction function. We find that structural breaks happen in most cases after 2008, highlighting the importance of the policy measures taken by most governments.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Carlos Cuestas & Luis A. Gil-Alana & Paulo José Regis, 2015. "The Sustainability of European External Debt: What have We Learned?," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(3), pages 445-468, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:reviec:v:23:y:2015:i:3:p:445-468
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    1. Memduh Alper DEMÄ°R, 2021. "External debt sustainability in the transition economies of southeast Europe: an application by wavelet-based unit root tests," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 12, pages 173-190, June.
    2. Pittaluga, Giovanni B. & Seghezza, Elena, 2016. "How Japan remained on the Gold Standard despite unsustainable external debt," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 40-54.
    3. Vicente Esteve & María A. Prats, 2023. "External sustainability in Spanish economy: Bubbles and crises, 1970–2020," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 60-80, February.
    4. Maria Malmierca-Ordoqui & Luis A. Gil-Alana & Lorenzo Bermejo, 2024. "Private and public debt convergence: a fractional cointegration approach," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 51(1), pages 161-183, February.
    5. Vicente Esteve & María A. Prats, 2022. "Can a country borrow forever? The unsustainable trajectory of international debt: the case of Spain," Working Papers 2202, Department of Applied Economics II, Universidad de Valencia.

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