Red Signals: Current Account Deficits and Sustainability
Posted: 5 Dec 2004
Abstract
This paper proposes a method to asses the potential problems of sustainability of a country's sovereign debt. We claim that the relevant variables used for this analysis are typically subject to changes which are associated with changes in macroeconomics policies. We propose a procedure for identifying periods under which the current account accumulates at a non-stationary rate. Our approach is based on imposing identifying restrictions on Markov switching type models. Empirical applications of the procedure to Argentina, Brazil, Japan, UK and USA are examined and discussed.
Keywords: Deficits sustainability, Markov Switching
JEL Classification: C22, E31, G12
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation