Featured News
January 28, 2025
The Sovereign Debt Forum and Massive Data Institute at Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy announce the launch of the #PublicDebtIsPublic initiative, which will create the first centrally-collated web-based sovereign debt documentation and data commons.
May 24, 2022
The Treasury Department moved to cut off Russia’s ability to make payments on its dollar-denominated sovereign debt, putting Russia on a path toward defaulting on its foreign debts this summer and deepening the country’s economic isolation after its invasion of Ukraine.
Since imposing a raft of sanctions on Russia this year, the U.S. had maintained an exemption allowing U.S. banks and investors to process and receive payments on existing Russian bonds. The Treasury said Tuesday it would allow the exemption to expire on Wednesday.
May 22, 2022
This series was the work of four reporters and more than a dozen researchers. Over the course of more than a year, we examined thousands of pages of original documents found in public and private archives and libraries, mainly in Haiti, the United States and France. We also read hundreds of books and articles, from tomes published shortly after the Haitian revolution began in 1791 to the most recent, which arrived in bookstores in France just months ago.
The team of international scholars who considered the Haitian independence debt as “perhaps the single most odious sovereign debt in history” were Kim Oosterlinck, Ugo Panizza, Mark C. Weidemaier and Mitu Gulati. We cite their research paper, “The Odious Haitian Independence Debt.”
April 11, 2022
One reason even the world’s most litigious vulture investors might balk is the risk to their reputations, said Sovereign Debt Forum Co-Director & Georgetown Law professor Anna Gelpern.
“Remember, a lot of people have already sort of edged out of this space because of sanctions. Of course, the people who stay could get a fabulous reward,” Professor Gelpern said.
April 7, 2022
Co-Director of the Sovereign Debt Forum and Georgetown Law IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern told Newsweek that if Russia defaults, the results may not be felt in the short term.
"In the near term, if they fail to pay past the grace period, it is entirely plausible—though not certain—that nothing would happen right away," Professor Gelpern said.
October 21, 2021
In March 2020, when in a few days 80 billion days washed out from already over-indebted countries, many expected widespread government debt crises. Nevertheless, during the progression in the pandemic there were many less default than predicted.
A deep description of sovereign debt for the Florence School of Banking and Finance by Anna Gelpern.
September 29, 2021
Countries can be difficult borrowers, IIEL Professor Anna Gelpern explains, and it's not practical to expect them to hand over a physical asset like a port if they're unable to pay their debts.
September 17, 2021
Prof. Eichengreen and his co-authors, including Professor Gelpern argue that the ability of governments to issue debt has played a critical role in addressing emergencies—from wars and pandemics to economic and financial crises, as well as in funding essential public goods and services such as transportation, education, and healthcare.
Aug 29, 2020
Economist Article featuring Anna Gelpern
June 12, 2020
Financial Times Article featuring Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal
June 03, 2020
Bloomberg Article featuring Lee Buchheit
June 1, 2020
New York Times Article featuring Mitu Gulati and Ugo Panizza
May 27, 2020
Lee Buchheit speaks to the Agenda with Stephen Cole
May 24, 2020
Bloomberg podcast with Lee Buchheit, Mitu Gulati, and Ugo Panizza.
May 16, 2020
Mtiu Gulati speaks to La Nación (Argentina)
May 12, 2020
Anna Gelpern and Sean Hagan discuss the increasing urgency of sovereign debt management reforms
May 2, 2020
Expansión Article featuring Lee Buchheit and Anna Gelpern
April 23, 2020
Project Syndicate Article featuring Lee Buchheit, Mitu Gulati, and Ugo Panizza; along with Patrick Bolton, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, Chang-Tai Hsieh, and Beatrice Weder di Mauro
April 22, 2020
Council on Foreign Relations Article featuring Anna Gelpern
April 8, 2020
Bloomberg Article featuring Anna Gelpern
April 7, 2020
Peterson Institute of International Economics (PIIE) proposal by Anna Gelpern and Sean Hagan along with Adnan Mazarei
April 7, 2020
Le Monde Article by Lee Buchheit
April 2020
Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) Policy Insight by Lee Buchheit, Mitu Gulati, and Ugo Panizza, along with Patrick Bolton, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, Chang-Tai Hsieh, and Beatrice Weder di Mauro
March 26, 2020
Financial Times "Guest post" by Lee Buchheit and Sean Hagan
December 6, 2019
Lee Buchheit speaks to The Agenda with Stephen Cole about how borrowing has reached its highest level on record