Debt Relief as a Last Resort for the Lender of Last Resort?

Abstract The coronavirus crisis has led to a sharp increase in the debt-to-GDP ratios of the euro area member states. Without external support, access to the capital market could be seriously threatened in the medium term for Italy, but also for other member states. While the Pandemic Emergency Purc...

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Main Authors: Arne Hansen, Dirk Meyer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2021-08-01
Series:Intereconomics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10272-021-0984-7
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author Arne Hansen
Dirk Meyer
author_facet Arne Hansen
Dirk Meyer
author_sort Arne Hansen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The coronavirus crisis has led to a sharp increase in the debt-to-GDP ratios of the euro area member states. Without external support, access to the capital market could be seriously threatened in the medium term for Italy, but also for other member states. While the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme, which is designed as a monetary policy instrument, is regarded by some as a violation of the prohibition of monetary financing, the Next Generation EU recovery fund is likely to direct the fundamental structures of the European Union towards a fiscal union with considerable redistribution elements. This article analyses an alternative strategy, namely debt relief by the European System of Central Banks through an EU debt agency. Such a scheme would be possible without amending the EU treaties and would avoid negative equity at the central banks. The question is under what circumstances would this approach be suitable and proportionate?
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publisher Springer
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spelling doaj-art-5454b9bfc71e42a7aba0a6d4ef4eee172025-01-17T08:34:12ZengSpringerIntereconomics0020-53461613-964X2021-08-0156422323310.1007/s10272-021-0984-7Debt Relief as a Last Resort for the Lender of Last Resort?Arne Hansen0Dirk Meyer1University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Helmut Schmidt UniversityUniversity of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Helmut Schmidt UniversityAbstract The coronavirus crisis has led to a sharp increase in the debt-to-GDP ratios of the euro area member states. Without external support, access to the capital market could be seriously threatened in the medium term for Italy, but also for other member states. While the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme, which is designed as a monetary policy instrument, is regarded by some as a violation of the prohibition of monetary financing, the Next Generation EU recovery fund is likely to direct the fundamental structures of the European Union towards a fiscal union with considerable redistribution elements. This article analyses an alternative strategy, namely debt relief by the European System of Central Banks through an EU debt agency. Such a scheme would be possible without amending the EU treaties and would avoid negative equity at the central banks. The question is under what circumstances would this approach be suitable and proportionate?https://doi.org/10.1007/s10272-021-0984-7
spellingShingle Arne Hansen
Dirk Meyer
Debt Relief as a Last Resort for the Lender of Last Resort?
Intereconomics
title Debt Relief as a Last Resort for the Lender of Last Resort?
title_full Debt Relief as a Last Resort for the Lender of Last Resort?
title_fullStr Debt Relief as a Last Resort for the Lender of Last Resort?
title_full_unstemmed Debt Relief as a Last Resort for the Lender of Last Resort?
title_short Debt Relief as a Last Resort for the Lender of Last Resort?
title_sort debt relief as a last resort for the lender of last resort
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s10272-021-0984-7
work_keys_str_mv AT arnehansen debtreliefasalastresortforthelenderoflastresort
AT dirkmeyer debtreliefasalastresortforthelenderoflastresort