We construct a financial vulnerability indicator that is consistent with the theoretical literature on determinants of defaults. It is based on the amount of new foreign financing that is needed to avoid a default or an import adjustment, expressedMoreWe construct a financial vulnerability indicator that is consistent with the theoretical literature on determinants of defaults.
It is based on the amount of new foreign financing that is needed to avoid a default or an import adjustment, expressed as a proportion of the countrys sources of foreign currency. As the need for new foreign financing increases, so does a countrys financial vulnerability.
The indicator has a higher correlation with default episodes than other indicators used in previous studies. In addition, the level at which it leads to a high probability of default is comparable across countries.