Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/144847 
Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) No. 573
Publisher: 
Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Hannover
Abstract: 
This paper analyzes the link between political factors and sovereign bond holdings of US investors in 60 countries over the 2003-2013 period. We find that, in general, US investors hold more bonds in countries with few political constraints on the government. Moreover, US investors respond to increased uncertainty around major elections by reducing government bond holdings. These effects are particularly significant in democratic regimes and countries with sound institutions, which enable effective implementation of fiscal consolidation measures or economic reforms. In countries characterized by high current default risk or a sovereign default history, US investors show a tendency towards favoring higher political constraints as this makes sovereign default more difficult for the government. Political instability, characterized by the fluctuation in political veto players, reduces US investment in government bonds. This effect is more pronounced in countries with low sovereign solvency.
Subjects: 
Government bond portfolio
Political factors
Treasury International Capital data
PPML
JEL: 
G11
G15
G18
H63
H11
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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