However, developed countries always have higher levels of private
debt than developing countries do, partly due to very low access to credit and credit cards in developing countries.
Not exact matches
While the U.S. and Europe are currently grappling with huge
debts, a lot of the
developing countries had their financial crises more
than a decade ago and are now less vulnerable to shocks.
Those
countries with less -
developed institutions and financial systems, limited policy credibility, greater foreign currency
debt and / or more precarious economic situations are certainly more exposed
than others to external shocks.
The 1980s African
debt crisis was created by a variety of factors (much more complex than the commonly attributed «poor African leadership» theory), including irresponsible over-lending by private creditors seeking high returns, the tendency towards one product commodity economies, the targeting of developing countries for high interest loans, the global monetary shock of 1979 - 81, trade protectionism in Northern countries, the depreciation of the US dollar, the prolonged drought of 1981 - 84, among other factors (see African Debt Revisit
debt crisis was created by a variety of factors (much more complex
than the commonly attributed «poor African leadership» theory), including irresponsible over-lending by private creditors seeking high returns, the tendency towards one product commodity economies, the targeting of
developing countries for high interest loans, the global monetary shock of 1979 - 81, trade protectionism in Northern
countries, the depreciation of the US dollar, the prolonged drought of 1981 - 84, among other factors (see African
Debt Revisit
Debt Revisited).
In fact, their economies have grown more quickly
than they have issued
debt, leading to a substantial drop in their
debt - to - GDP ratios.7 Although their budget deficits remain higher
than that of the average
developed country, they are now well below their rate of GDP growth (something many
developed market
countries can't claim).
According to some key metrics, they actually appear stronger
than many
developed market
countries — they have lower
debt burdens, lower deficits, and higher reserves.
In markets for government
debt, favoring the a priori safe bet of high -
debt - issuer
countries, such as the United States, Japan, and
developed European nations, can be far riskier to an investor's wealth
than interest - rate volatility or credit ratings may suggest.