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Brad Setser tracks cross-border flows, with a bit of macroeconomics thrown in.

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Power and Financial Interdependence

by Brad W. Setser May 15, 2024

My new paper for the Geoeconomics and Geofinance Initiative of the Institute Français des Relations Internationals’ (IFRI) explores the history of the Sino-American financial relationship. Read More

Economics
Getting Debt Restructuring Terms Right
State contingent instruments can play a role in debt restructuring agreements, but they shouldn’t be a give-away to investors.  There is a compelling case for their use in Zambia—but not in Sri Lanka.
Blog Post by Brad W. Setser May 3, 2023 Follow the Money
Economics
The Common Framework and Its Discontents
The IMF's debt sustainability assessments for Zambia and Sri Lanka differ so greatly that it's hard to understand how both emerged from the same institution. Case-by-case only works with some consistency across cases.
Blog Post by Brad W. Setser March 26, 2023 Follow the Money
Economics
How an SDR Denominated Bond Could Work
How would an SDR bond work? Could such a bond issue help stretch the World Bank's and safely mobilize billions to fight poverty and finance investments in clean technology in the world's frontier markets?
Blog Post by Brad W. Setser and Stephen Paduano March 16, 2023 Follow the Money
  • Economics
    The World Bank Stepped Up During the Pandemic
    The World Bank (and the IMF) should get credit for increasing their lending to the world's poorest countries during the pandemic. But without additional action, net flows to developing economies will fall off a cliff.
    Blog Post by Brad W. Setser March 1, 2023 Follow the Money
  • China
    China's Rising Holdings of U.S. Agency Bonds
    China has discovered, once again, that the best alternative to a U.S. Treasury bond is a U.S. Agency bond...
    Blog Post by Brad W. Setser February 13, 2023 Follow the Money