Sovereign Debt and Global Finance: What future beyond the dollar?

As many countries grapple with the twin challenge of keeping debt sustainable while investing for the future, this event – hosted by the Sciences Po Chair in Sovereign Debt and Finance – explores the rapidly evolving landscape of sovereign debt within today’s international financial architecture.

Debt challenges are far from uniform. Advanced economies, including the G7, benefit from deep financial markets, strong investor confidence and the ability to borrow in their own currencies – giving them far greater flexibility, even at high debt levels.

For many developing countries, the picture is starkly different. Limited fiscal space to respond to external shocks – from commodity price swings and capital outflows to natural disasters – can quickly push rising debt onto an unsustainable path. Public investment, social spending and growth-oriented policies are often the first to be squeezed, heightening the risk of a “debt trap” in which scarce fiscal resources entrench poverty and widen inequality. How governments manage debt ultimately determines whether it becomes a catalyst for development or a crippling burden.

The event will also unpack emerging issues such as supernational borrowing and the rising global demand for safe assets ‘beyond the dollar’.

We're delighted to welcome Paolo Gentiloni, Co-Chair of the United Nations Group of Experts on the Debt Crisis, who will deliver a keynote speech. A discussion with Bruno Cabrillac, Director General de la Fondation pour les études et la recherche sur le développement international and Dr. Sylvain Broyer, Chief EMEA Economist and Managing Director of S&P Global Ratings Europe Ltd. will follow. 

The event will be moderated by Paola Subacchi, Chairholder of the Sciences Po Chair in Sovereign Debt and Finance.

The Sciences Po Chair in Sovereign Debt and Finance benefits from the support of Lazard.