Why Do Some Countries Default More Often Than Others? The Role of Institutions

This paper examines how a country's weak institutions and polarized government can affect the likelihood of its default on sovereign debt. Using a data set of 90 countries, it shows that strong institutions are associated with fewer sovereign...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Qian, Rong
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
TAX
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20120312132447
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3282
id okr-10986-3282
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ACCESS TO CREDIT
ADVANCED ECONOMIES
AGGREGATE COST
AGGREGATE DEBT
AMOUNT OF DEBT
ARREARS
ASSETS
AVERAGE DEBT
BAILOUTS
BANK POLICY
BANKING CRISES
BARGAINING POWER
BARGAINING POWERS
BOND
BOND PRICE
BOND PRICES
BORROWER
BORROWING COUNTRY
BUDGET CONSTRAINT
BUDGET CONSTRAINTS
BUREAUCRATIC QUALITY
BUSINESS CYCLE
CAPITAL FLOWS
CAPITAL MARKET
CASE OF DEFAULT
CENTRAL BANK
CENTRAL BANK INDEPENDENCE
CLAIM
CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING
CORRUPTION
COST STRUCTURE
COUNTRY RISK
CREDIBILITY
CREDIT MARKET
CREDITORS
CURRENT ACCOUNT
DEBT CONTRACTS
DEBT CRISES
DEBT CRISIS
DEBT LEVEL
DEBT OBLIGATIONS
DEBT POLICIES
DEBT POLICY
DEBT REPAYMENT
DEBTS
DEFAULT COST
DEFAULT COSTS
DEFAULT LOSS
DEFAULT PENALTY
DEFAULT PROBABILITIES
DEFAULT PROBABILITY
DEFAULT RISK
DEFAULTER
DEFAULTERS
DEFICITS
DEMOCRACIES
DEPENDENT
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DISCOUNT BONDS
DUMMY VARIABLE
DURABLE
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC POLICY
EMERGING ECONOMIES
EMPLOYER
EQUILIBRIUM
ETHNIC GROUPS
EVENT OF DEFAULT
EXCLUSION
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
EXPROPRIATION
EXPROPRIATION RISK
EXTERNAL BORROWING
EXTERNAL DEBT
EXTERNAL SHOCKS
FEDERAL RESERVE
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
FINANCIAL CRISES
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
FINANCING COST
FINANCING COSTS
FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION
FISCAL DEFICIT
FISCAL DEFICITS
FISCAL DISCIPLINE
FISCAL POLICIES
FISCAL POLICY
FISCAL REFORMS
FOREIGN INVESTORS
FOREIGN LENDERS
FULL REPAYMENT
FUNCTIONAL FORMS
GDP PER CAPITA
GINI COEFFICIENT
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE
GOVERNANCE INDICATORS
GOVERNMENT DEBT
GOVERNMENT DEFAULT
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
HARD BUDGET
HIGH DEBT
INCOME
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME LEVEL
INCOMES
INDUSTRIALIZATION
INEFFICIENCY
INFLATION
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS
INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS
INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT
INTEREST PAYMENT
INTEREST RATES
INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL
INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKET
INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
JURISDICTIONS
LABOR UNIONS
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
LENDER
LENDERS
LEVEL OF DEBT
LEVELS OF DEBT
LEVY
LIQUIDATION
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MACROECONOMIC POLICIES
MACROECONOMICS
MARGINAL COST
MARKET FOR BONDS
MARKET MECHANISMS
MONETARY POLICY
NATIONAL INCOME
NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES
NEGATIVE EXTERNALITY
NEGOTIATIONS
OPEN ECONOMY
OPTIMIZATION
ORIGINAL CONTRACT
ORIGINAL OBLIGATION
OUTPUT
OUTPUT LOSS
PARTICULAR COUNTRY
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL REGIME
POLITICAL SYSTEM
PROBABILITY OF DEFAULT
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC DEBT
PUBLIC DEFICIT
PUBLIC SPENDING
REAL GDP
REAL INTEREST
REAL INTEREST RATE
RECESSIONS
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
REMEDIES
RENEGOTIATION
RENEGOTIATION PROCESS
REPAYMENT
REPUDIATION
REPUTATION
RESTRUCTURING OF DEBT
RISK AVERSION
RISK NEUTRAL
RISK OF DEFAULT
RISK PREMIUM
RULE OF LAW
SINGLE DEBT
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOFT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS
SOURCE OF INCOME
SOVEREIGN BONDS
SOVEREIGN DEBT
SOVEREIGN DEFAULT
SOVEREIGN DEFAULTS
STATE ARREARS
STATE DEBT
STATE DEBTS
SYSTEMIC BANKING CRISES
TAX
TAX BURDEN
TAX REVENUE
TAX REVENUES
TOTAL DEBT
TREASURY
UNDERESTIMATES
UTILITY FUNCTION
VOLATILITIES
VOLATILITY
VOTERS
WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATOR
spellingShingle ACCESS TO CREDIT
ADVANCED ECONOMIES
AGGREGATE COST
AGGREGATE DEBT
AMOUNT OF DEBT
ARREARS
ASSETS
AVERAGE DEBT
BAILOUTS
BANK POLICY
BANKING CRISES
BARGAINING POWER
BARGAINING POWERS
BOND
BOND PRICE
BOND PRICES
BORROWER
BORROWING COUNTRY
BUDGET CONSTRAINT
BUDGET CONSTRAINTS
BUREAUCRATIC QUALITY
BUSINESS CYCLE
CAPITAL FLOWS
CAPITAL MARKET
CASE OF DEFAULT
CENTRAL BANK
CENTRAL BANK INDEPENDENCE
CLAIM
CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING
CORRUPTION
COST STRUCTURE
COUNTRY RISK
CREDIBILITY
CREDIT MARKET
CREDITORS
CURRENT ACCOUNT
DEBT CONTRACTS
DEBT CRISES
DEBT CRISIS
DEBT LEVEL
DEBT OBLIGATIONS
DEBT POLICIES
DEBT POLICY
DEBT REPAYMENT
DEBTS
DEFAULT COST
DEFAULT COSTS
DEFAULT LOSS
DEFAULT PENALTY
DEFAULT PROBABILITIES
DEFAULT PROBABILITY
DEFAULT RISK
DEFAULTER
DEFAULTERS
DEFICITS
DEMOCRACIES
DEPENDENT
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
DEVELOPMENT POLICY
DISCOUNT BONDS
DUMMY VARIABLE
DURABLE
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC POLICY
EMERGING ECONOMIES
EMPLOYER
EQUILIBRIUM
ETHNIC GROUPS
EVENT OF DEFAULT
EXCLUSION
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
EXPROPRIATION
EXPROPRIATION RISK
EXTERNAL BORROWING
EXTERNAL DEBT
EXTERNAL SHOCKS
FEDERAL RESERVE
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
FINANCIAL CRISES
FINANCIAL CRISIS
FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP
FINANCING COST
FINANCING COSTS
FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION
FISCAL DEFICIT
FISCAL DEFICITS
FISCAL DISCIPLINE
FISCAL POLICIES
FISCAL POLICY
FISCAL REFORMS
FOREIGN INVESTORS
FOREIGN LENDERS
FULL REPAYMENT
FUNCTIONAL FORMS
GDP PER CAPITA
GINI COEFFICIENT
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE
GOVERNANCE INDICATORS
GOVERNMENT DEBT
GOVERNMENT DEFAULT
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
HARD BUDGET
HIGH DEBT
INCOME
INCOME INEQUALITY
INCOME LEVEL
INCOMES
INDUSTRIALIZATION
INEFFICIENCY
INFLATION
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS
INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS
INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT
INTEREST PAYMENT
INTEREST RATES
INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL
INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKET
INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
JURISDICTIONS
LABOR UNIONS
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
LENDER
LENDERS
LEVEL OF DEBT
LEVELS OF DEBT
LEVY
LIQUIDATION
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MACROECONOMIC POLICIES
MACROECONOMICS
MARGINAL COST
MARKET FOR BONDS
MARKET MECHANISMS
MONETARY POLICY
NATIONAL INCOME
NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES
NEGATIVE EXTERNALITY
NEGOTIATIONS
OPEN ECONOMY
OPTIMIZATION
ORIGINAL CONTRACT
ORIGINAL OBLIGATION
OUTPUT
OUTPUT LOSS
PARTICULAR COUNTRY
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL REGIME
POLITICAL SYSTEM
PROBABILITY OF DEFAULT
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PUBLIC DEBT
PUBLIC DEFICIT
PUBLIC SPENDING
REAL GDP
REAL INTEREST
REAL INTEREST RATE
RECESSIONS
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
REMEDIES
RENEGOTIATION
RENEGOTIATION PROCESS
REPAYMENT
REPUDIATION
REPUTATION
RESTRUCTURING OF DEBT
RISK AVERSION
RISK NEUTRAL
RISK OF DEFAULT
RISK PREMIUM
RULE OF LAW
SINGLE DEBT
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOFT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS
SOURCE OF INCOME
SOVEREIGN BONDS
SOVEREIGN DEBT
SOVEREIGN DEFAULT
SOVEREIGN DEFAULTS
STATE ARREARS
STATE DEBT
STATE DEBTS
SYSTEMIC BANKING CRISES
TAX
TAX BURDEN
TAX REVENUE
TAX REVENUES
TOTAL DEBT
TREASURY
UNDERESTIMATES
UTILITY FUNCTION
VOLATILITIES
VOLATILITY
VOTERS
WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATOR
Qian, Rong
Why Do Some Countries Default More Often Than Others? The Role of Institutions
geographic_facet The World Region
The World Region
relation Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5993
description This paper examines how a country's weak institutions and polarized government can affect the likelihood of its default on sovereign debt. Using a data set of 90 countries, it shows that strong institutions are associated with fewer sovereign default crises. In addition, when institutions are weak, a more polarized government tends to default more often. To explain these findings, the author develops a model showing the dynamics between the quality of institutions, the level of government polarization and sovereign default risk. Countries default more often when they lack rules and strong institutions to curb the influence of powerful groups on government policies. That is because in a polarized government, each powerful group makes decisions without considering the impact on other groups. Simulations of the model show that more than half the cross-country variation in sovereign default frequencies can be explained by institutional quality and the degree of government polarization observed in the data.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Qian, Rong
author_facet Qian, Rong
author_sort Qian, Rong
title Why Do Some Countries Default More Often Than Others? The Role of Institutions
title_short Why Do Some Countries Default More Often Than Others? The Role of Institutions
title_full Why Do Some Countries Default More Often Than Others? The Role of Institutions
title_fullStr Why Do Some Countries Default More Often Than Others? The Role of Institutions
title_full_unstemmed Why Do Some Countries Default More Often Than Others? The Role of Institutions
title_sort why do some countries default more often than others? the role of institutions
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20120312132447
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3282
_version_ 1764386727114309632
spelling okr-10986-32822021-04-23T14:02:08Z Why Do Some Countries Default More Often Than Others? The Role of Institutions Qian, Rong ACCESS TO CREDIT ADVANCED ECONOMIES AGGREGATE COST AGGREGATE DEBT AMOUNT OF DEBT ARREARS ASSETS AVERAGE DEBT BAILOUTS BANK POLICY BANKING CRISES BARGAINING POWER BARGAINING POWERS BOND BOND PRICE BOND PRICES BORROWER BORROWING COUNTRY BUDGET CONSTRAINT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS BUREAUCRATIC QUALITY BUSINESS CYCLE CAPITAL FLOWS CAPITAL MARKET CASE OF DEFAULT CENTRAL BANK CENTRAL BANK INDEPENDENCE CLAIM CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING CORRUPTION COST STRUCTURE COUNTRY RISK CREDIBILITY CREDIT MARKET CREDITORS CURRENT ACCOUNT DEBT CONTRACTS DEBT CRISES DEBT CRISIS DEBT LEVEL DEBT OBLIGATIONS DEBT POLICIES DEBT POLICY DEBT REPAYMENT DEBTS DEFAULT COST DEFAULT COSTS DEFAULT LOSS DEFAULT PENALTY DEFAULT PROBABILITIES DEFAULT PROBABILITY DEFAULT RISK DEFAULTER DEFAULTERS DEFICITS DEMOCRACIES DEPENDENT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT BANK DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS DEVELOPMENT POLICY DISCOUNT BONDS DUMMY VARIABLE DURABLE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC POLICY EMERGING ECONOMIES EMPLOYER EQUILIBRIUM ETHNIC GROUPS EVENT OF DEFAULT EXCLUSION EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURES EXPROPRIATION EXPROPRIATION RISK EXTERNAL BORROWING EXTERNAL DEBT EXTERNAL SHOCKS FEDERAL RESERVE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK FINANCIAL AFFAIRS FINANCIAL CRISES FINANCIAL CRISIS FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP FINANCING COST FINANCING COSTS FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION FISCAL DEFICIT FISCAL DEFICITS FISCAL DISCIPLINE FISCAL POLICIES FISCAL POLICY FISCAL REFORMS FOREIGN INVESTORS FOREIGN LENDERS FULL REPAYMENT FUNCTIONAL FORMS GDP PER CAPITA GINI COEFFICIENT GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE GOVERNANCE INDICATORS GOVERNMENT DEBT GOVERNMENT DEFAULT GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE GOVERNMENT POLICIES GOVERNMENT SPENDING HARD BUDGET HIGH DEBT INCOME INCOME INEQUALITY INCOME LEVEL INCOMES INDUSTRIALIZATION INEFFICIENCY INFLATION INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT INTEREST PAYMENT INTEREST RATES INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS INTERNATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKET INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS INTERNATIONAL CREDIT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS JURISDICTIONS LABOR UNIONS LEGAL FRAMEWORK LENDER LENDERS LEVEL OF DEBT LEVELS OF DEBT LEVY LIQUIDATION LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES MACROECONOMIC POLICIES MACROECONOMICS MARGINAL COST MARKET FOR BONDS MARKET MECHANISMS MONETARY POLICY NATIONAL INCOME NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES NEGATIVE EXTERNALITY NEGOTIATIONS OPEN ECONOMY OPTIMIZATION ORIGINAL CONTRACT ORIGINAL OBLIGATION OUTPUT OUTPUT LOSS PARTICULAR COUNTRY POLITICAL ECONOMY POLITICAL REGIME POLITICAL SYSTEM PROBABILITY OF DEFAULT PROPERTY RIGHTS PUBLIC DEBT PUBLIC DEFICIT PUBLIC SPENDING REAL GDP REAL INTEREST REAL INTEREST RATE RECESSIONS REGRESSION ANALYSIS REMEDIES RENEGOTIATION RENEGOTIATION PROCESS REPAYMENT REPUDIATION REPUTATION RESTRUCTURING OF DEBT RISK AVERSION RISK NEUTRAL RISK OF DEFAULT RISK PREMIUM RULE OF LAW SINGLE DEBT SOCIAL SECURITY SOFT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS SOURCE OF INCOME SOVEREIGN BONDS SOVEREIGN DEBT SOVEREIGN DEFAULT SOVEREIGN DEFAULTS STATE ARREARS STATE DEBT STATE DEBTS SYSTEMIC BANKING CRISES TAX TAX BURDEN TAX REVENUE TAX REVENUES TOTAL DEBT TREASURY UNDERESTIMATES UTILITY FUNCTION VOLATILITIES VOLATILITY VOTERS WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATOR This paper examines how a country's weak institutions and polarized government can affect the likelihood of its default on sovereign debt. Using a data set of 90 countries, it shows that strong institutions are associated with fewer sovereign default crises. In addition, when institutions are weak, a more polarized government tends to default more often. To explain these findings, the author develops a model showing the dynamics between the quality of institutions, the level of government polarization and sovereign default risk. Countries default more often when they lack rules and strong institutions to curb the influence of powerful groups on government policies. That is because in a polarized government, each powerful group makes decisions without considering the impact on other groups. Simulations of the model show that more than half the cross-country variation in sovereign default frequencies can be explained by institutional quality and the degree of government polarization observed in the data. 2012-03-19T17:29:40Z 2012-03-19T17:29:40Z 2012-03-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20120312132447 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3282 English Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5993 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper The World Region The World Region