Why are Brazil's Interest Rates so High?

44 Pages Posted: 25 Oct 2002

See all articles by Carlo A. Favero

Carlo A. Favero

Bocconi University - Department of Economics; Bocconi University - Department of Finance; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Francesco Giavazzi

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); University of Bocconi - Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research (IGIER); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Date Written: July 14, 2002

Abstract

Brazil's public debt is large and interest payments weigh dangerously on the government's budget. In 2001 interest expenditure amounted to 7,3 per cent of GDP. On a mark-to-market basis (that is considering the effect of exchange rate depreciation on the value of foreign currency-denominated bonds) interest expenditure reached 9 per cent of GDP. These figures are large, though not unusual in high debt countries: they are comparable to those observed in some European countries (Italy, Greece and Belgium) prior to monetray union. Two factors contribute to this level of debt service: the size of the debt and the average cost of the debt.

Suggested Citation

Favero, Carlo A. and Giavazzi, Francesco and Giavazzi, Francesco, Why are Brazil's Interest Rates so High? (July 14, 2002). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=326781 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.326781

Carlo A. Favero (Contact Author)

Bocconi University - Department of Economics ( email )

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Milan, 20136
Italy

Bocconi University - Department of Finance ( email )

Via Roentgen 1
Milano, MI 20136
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.igier.unibocconi.it\favero

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

Francesco Giavazzi

University of Bocconi - Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research (IGIER) ( email )

Via Roentgen 1
Milan, 20136
Italy
+39 02 5836 3304 (Phone)
+39 02 5836 3302 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

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