DP9577 The Greek Debt Restructuring: An Autopsy
| Author(s): | Mitu Gulati, Christoph Trebesch, Jeromin Zettelmeyer |
| Publication Date: | July 2013 |
| Keyword(s): | debt restructuring, Eurozone crisis, financial crises, Greece, sovereign debt, sovereign default |
| JEL(s): | F340 |
| Programme Areas: | International Macroeconomics |
| Link to this Page: | cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=9577 |
The Greek debt restructuring of 2012 stands out in the history of sovereign defaults. It achieved very large debt relief ? over 50 per cent of 2012 GDP ? with minimal financial disruption, using a combination of new legal techniques, exceptionally large cash incentives, and official sector pressure on key creditors. But it did so at a cost. The timing and design of the restructuring left money on the table from the perspective of Greece, created a large risk for European taxpayers, and set precedents ? particularly in its very generous treatment of holdout creditors ? that are likely to make future debt restructurings in Europe more difficult.