Do Macro-economic Fundamentals Price Sovereign CDS Spreads of Emerging Economies?

Thomas J. Plank
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Thomas J. Plank: University of Pennsylvania

Working Papers from University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, Weiss Center

Abstract: This paper studies the extent to which macro-economic variables govern the dynamics of emerging markets sovereign CDS spreads. I propose a structural model of sovereign credit risk based on observed exports, imports and international reserves. Using these macro fundamentals, I define a country's ability to pay as the maximum amount of foreign currency available for repayment of non-domestic debt. The joint dynamics of the ability to pay and a sovereign's outstanding external debt determine the level of country default risk and thus the CDS spreads. I implement the model for a sample of 6 emerging economies for a period covering the recent financial crisis. A calibrated version of the model captures the widening of sovereign spreads during the crisis and provides a good _t for the time-series dynamics of CDS spreads. Lastly, I use the model to measure the market-implied level of country liabilities. On average, the value of implied external debt is 13% larger than the reported level of debt.

Date: 2010-06
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ecl:upafin:10-5

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