Caveat creditor

One area where international monetary cooperation has failed is in the role of surplus or creditor countries in limiting or in correcting external imbalances. The stock dimensions of such imbalances - net external positions, leverage in national balance sheets, currency/maturity mismatches, the structure of ownership of assets and liabilities and over-reliance on debt - can threaten financial stability in creditor as in debtor countries. Creditor countries therefore have a responsibility both for avoiding "overlending" and for devising cooperative solutions to excessive or prolonged imbalances.

Keywords: International adjustment, symmetry in adjustment, external financing and risk exposures, financial crisis

JEL classification: F32, F33