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Structural origins of debt-sustainability in mature and transition economies: Domar, Balassa–Samuelson and Maastricht

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  • Borgersen, Trond-Arne
  • King, Roswitha M.

Abstract

This paper analyses the relation between the structure of GDP and a country's debt sustainability. A two-sector model with endogenous relative sector sizes is developed to formally show that under certain conditions the debt sustainability, measured as the limiting value of the debt-to-GDP ratio, of transition economies exceeds that of mature market economies. This ‘advantage’ comes from structural factors: sectoral imbalances of growth and shifts in sectoral composition of GDP. Furthermore, among transition economies those with relatively higher structural flexibility can sustain relatively higher debt-to-GDP ratios. How much debt relative to GDP a country can sustain is shown to be highly context specific and depends on the economic structure, composition of growth, structural flexibility, and the prevailing incentives for restructuring. But should a country carry a high debt level relative to GDP just because it can? The paper answers this question by distinguishing between two categories of transition economies: Those that could and should and those that could but should not exploit their capacity to sustain high debt levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Borgersen, Trond-Arne & King, Roswitha M., 2014. "Structural origins of debt-sustainability in mature and transition economies: Domar, Balassa–Samuelson and Maastricht," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 101-119.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:30:y:2014:i:c:p:101-119
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2014.03.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Liudmila Malyshava, 2018. "External Instability in Transition: Applying Minsky's Theory of Financial Fragility to International Markets," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_909, Levy Economics Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Debt sustainability; Growth; Transition; Stability; Economic structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P24 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - National Income, Product, and Expenditure; Money; Inflation

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