What drives the commodity-sovereign risk dependence in emerging market economies?

Hannes Boehm, Stefan Eichler and Stefan Giessler

Journal of International Money and Finance, 2021, vol. 111, issue C

Abstract: Using daily data for 34 emerging markets in the period 1994–2016, we find robust evidence that higher export commodity prices are associated with lower sovereign default risk, as measured by lower EMBI spreads. The economic effect is especially pronounced for heavy commodity exporters. Examining the drivers, we find that, first, commodity dependence is higher for countries that export large volumes of commodities, whereas other portfolio characteristics like volatility or concentration are less important. Second, commodity-sovereign risk dependence increases in times of recessions and expansionary U.S. monetary policy. Third, the importance of raw material prices for sovereign financing can likely be mitigated if a country improves institutions and tax systems, attracts FDI inflows, invests in manufacturing, machinery and infrastructure, builds up reserve assets and opens capital and trade accounts. Fourth, the country’s government indebtedness or amount of received development assistance appear to be only of secondary importance for commodity dependence.

Keywords: Sovereign bond prices; Commodity prices; International finance; Emerging market economies; Institutions; U.S. monetary policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F36 G12 G15 G18 O13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jimfin:v:111:y:2021:i:c:s0261560620302643

DOI: 10.1016/j.jimonfin.2020.102308

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