External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users

Abstract

So, the Guide provides additional conceptual guidance, and presentation tables, for data series such as the debt-service schedule (especially relevant for liquidity analysis), the currency composition of debt, and other series known from experience to be of analytical use. The Guide also explains the concept of net external debt-that is, a comparison of the stock of external debt with holdings of external financial assets of similar instrument type-and incorporates financial derivative positions into external debt analysis.Drawing on the broad range of experience in the international agencies involved in its production, the Guide provides advice on the compilation of external debt statistics, and the analytical use of such data. This advice is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather provides an overview of the issues. The work of international agencies in the field of external debt is outlined. Because the Guide is primarily intended to be a source of reference for both compilers and users of external debt statistics, certain sections will be more relevant for some audiences than others. For instance, the first section discusses complex conceptual measurement issues and provides detailed advice as a source of reference-this guidance is intended particularly for the compiler. In contrast, the section on the use of external debt data is directed toward both users and compilers. It is hoped that by this approach the Guide will contribute to better external debt statistics and an improved understanding of the complex issues involved in both compiling and analyzing them.