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This book provides a detailed and comprehensive synthesis of the literature on growth-linked securities, which are an equity-like method of financing for sovereigns. Based on an idea introduced by Shiller (1993), these securities enjoy growing intellectual support. Momentum in favour of them in policy circles has increased since the global financial crisis of 2007-9 and the subsequent debt crisis in Europe in 2010. This book covers many issues on the topic. After surveying the history of the idea and past experiences of countries that issued growth-linked warrants, chapters examine the pros and cons of this financial instrument from the point of view of issuers and investors. The book also discusses technical issues preventing the broad issuance of growth-linked securities and provides solutions to foster their acceptance by market participants.
List of contents
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: History and Precedents.- Chapter 3: The Variants of GDP-Linked Securities.- Chapter 4: The Benefits of GDP-Linked Securities.- Chapter 5: The Costs of GDP-Linked Securities.- Chapter 6: Topics in the Demand for GDP-Linked Securities.- Chapter 7: Topics in the Supply of GDP-Linked Securities.- Chapter 8: GDP Revisions.- Chapter 9: Would BM Really be Anti-Cyclical?.- Chapter 10: Selecting the Best Form .- Chapter 11: The Disadvantages of Financial Innovation.- Chapter 12: Concluding Remarks.
About the author
John Williamson was a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, US, from 1981 to 2012. He was project director for the UN High-Level Panel on Financing for Development (the Zedillo Report) in 2001 and on leave as chief economist for South Asia at the World Bank during 1996–99. He has taught as an economics professor at several universities, including Pontifḯcia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, University of Warwick, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of York, and Princeton University. John was also adviser to the International Monetary Fund (1972–74); and economic consultant to the UK Treasury (1968–70).
Summary
Provide a detailed and comprehensive review of the literature on growth-linked securities
Reviews the history of growth-linked securities
Explores recent experiences of countries that have issued growth-linked securities
Analyses the pros and cons of this financial instrument
Discusses technical issues preventing the broad issuance of growth-linked securities
