Sovereign Debt at the Crossroads: Challenges and Proposals for Resolving the Third World Debt Crisis [Paperback]

Chris Jochnick (Editor), Fraser A. Preston (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2006

Recent world events have created a compelling need for new perspectives and realistic solutions to the problem of sovereign debt. The success of the Jubilee 2000 movement in raising public awareness of the devastating effects of debt, coupled with the highly publicized Bono/O'Neill tour of Africa, and the spectacular default and economic implosion of Argentina have helped spur a global debate over debt. A growing chorus of globalization critics, galvanized by the Catholic Church's demand for forgiveness and bolstered by recent defaults, has put debt near the top of the international agenda. Creditor governments and international financial institutions have belatedly recognized the need for more sustainable progress on debt as an inescapable step towards economic recovery in many parts of the world. This book is intended to advance the dialogue around these issues by providing a comprehensive overview of the problems raised by debt and describing new and practical approaches to overcoming them. It will be the first in more than a decade to bring together under one cover the voices of prominent members of the international debt community. It will include pieces from the most relevant constituencies: from creditors (the IMF/World Bank, government lenders, private investors) to critics (debtor representatives, activists, and academics) and analysis from economists, bankers, lawyers, social scientists, and politicians. As contributions come from such leading thinkers across a range of disciplines, this book will offer a timely guide for understanding and influencing the debt debate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Sovereign Debt at the Crossroads brings into sharp relief the multiple burdens that indebtedness imposes on the developing world. It explores the range of debt-related issues that must be addressed to lift poor countries and poor people out of poverty. The authors go beyond mere debt relief to examine a variety of ways forward including carefully designed economic reforms, expanded debt-for-nature swaps, better targeted aid, and freer trade. If you read one book on the debt crisis, this should be it."--Daniel C. Esty, Director, Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy

"Some of the leading thinkers unravel the complex challenges of debt management. This volume provides a wake-up call by offering comprehensive and innovative approaches...invaluable to policy makers and a great resource for students and scholars."--Richard Morgenstern, Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future

About the Author

Chris Jochnick has worked for fifteen years at the intersection of human rights, development and corporate accountability. He is the founder of two international non-profit groups devoted to economic and social rights, spent five years in a wall street law firm and currently directs Oxfam America's work on corporate social responsibility. He has written and lectured extensively on human rights, sovereign debt and corporations and is an adjunct professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a former MacArthur Foundation writing fellow.

Fraser Preston is an international banker and investor, with a decade of experience in emerging markets and a commitment to economic development. He spent four years working in the capital markets of Argentina and Brazil, and is currently a principal of a multi-billion dollar private equity fund. He is a graduate of Stanford Law School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he was a GMIX fellow.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195168011
• ISBN-13: 978-0195168013
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,880,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars broad look at sovereign debt, January 7, 2009

By 

K. Lauer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sovereign Debt at the Crossroads: Challenges and Proposals for Resolving the Third World Debt Crisis (Paperback)

This book is an excellent compilation of papers examining sovereign debt from various perspectives: historical, legal/ethical and future prospects. Some chapters are stronger than others but as a whole they provide a broad and illuminating study of sovereign debt and constitute an excellent resource both for novices as well as those familiar with the topic.

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating and brilliant study, January 7, 2009

By 

Debt Maven (New York, N.Y. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sovereign Debt at the Crossroads: Challenges and Proposals for Resolving the Third World Debt Crisis (Paperback)

Sovereign Debt at the Crossroads provides a broad, illuminating and brilliant study of one of the most pressing international issues facing the developing world. Authors attack the issues from different angles, proposing innovative and creative mechanisms for alleviating debt burdens. Essential reading for any ecomonics student or policy-maker who wants to understand these complex issues and how we will solve the myriad problems associated with the debt debate.