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Sovereign defaults and international trade: Germany and its creditors in the 1930s

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  • Accominotti, Olivier
  • Albers, Thilo
  • Kessler, Philipp
  • Oosterlinck, Kim

Abstract

This paper argues that international and domestic political economy factors are key determinants of creditor countries’ commercial policy responses to sovereign debt defaults. We illustrate this argument using a unique historical case study: the German external default of the 1930s. Our new historical narrative of this episode reveals that the various creditor countries adopted markedly different trade policy responses to the default depending on their degree of economic leverage on Germany and on the relative political influence of various interest groups within their domestic economy. These factors account for the pattern of Germany’s bilateral trade with the different creditor countries during the 1930s as well as for the differential treatment of various countries’ bondholders by the German government.

Suggested Citation

  • Accominotti, Olivier & Albers, Thilo & Kessler, Philipp & Oosterlinck, Kim, 2023. "Sovereign defaults and international trade: Germany and its creditors in the 1930s," CEPR Discussion Papers 18703, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:18703
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • N20 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N40 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • N70 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - General, International, or Comparative

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