State dissolution, sovereign debt and default: Lessons from the UK and Ireland, 1920-1938

Nathan Foley-Fisher and Eoin McLaughlin

No 14-06, QUCEH Working Paper Series from Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History

Abstract: We study Ireland´s inheritance of debt following its secession from the United Kingdom at the beginning of the twentieth century. Exploiting structural differences in bonds guaranteed by the UK and Irish governments, we can identify perceived uncertainty about fiscal responsibility in the aftermath of the sovereign breakup. We document that Ireland´s default on intergovernmental payments was an important event. Although payments from the Irish government ceased, the UK government instructed its Treasury to continue making interest and principal repayments. As a result, the risk premium on the bonds the UK government had guaranteed fell to about zero. Our findings are consistent with persistent ambiguity about fiscal responsibility far-beyond sovereign breakup. We discuss the political and economic forces behind the Irish and UK governments´ decisions, and suggest lessons for modern-day states that are eyeing dissolution. "Further, in view of all the historical circumstances, it is not equitable that the Irish people should be obliged to pay away these moneys" - Eamon De Valera, 12 October 1932

Keywords: state dissolution; sovereign default; Irish land bonds; Dublin Stock Exchange (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 N23 N24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: State dissolution, sovereign debt and default:Lessons from the UK and Ireland, 1920-1938 (2014)
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