A proposal for a new international debt framework (IDF) for the prevention and resolution of debt crisis in middle income countries

Abstract: "The present lack of a comprehensive framework for sovereign debt restructuring not only generates significant costs but also endangers the stability of the international financial system. In addition, collective action problems involved in the restructuring of sovereign bonds place an obstacle to an orderly and rapid restructuring. The case of Argentina presents a good example for difficulties of a sovereign - but also private-sector stakeholders - may face in the absence of an orderly debt-restructuring mechanism. This paper outlines a possible approach for a new International Debt Framework (IDF) that represents a middle ground between a legally binding insolvency procedure and a voluntary code of conduct. A comprehensive restructuring mechanism could be successful only if it were certain that it would meet with intergovernemental support and leadership on the part of both developed and developing countries. Since the Group of 20 (G20) meetings of finance ministers from develope