State dissolution, sovereign debt and default: Lessons from the UK and Ireland, 1920-1938

Arbeitspapier

We study Ireland´s inheritance of debt following its secession from the United Kingdom at the beginning of the twentieth century. Exploiting structural differences in bonds guaranteed by the UK and Irish governments, we can identify perceived uncertainty about fiscal responsibility in the aftermath of the sovereign breakup. We document that Ireland´s default on intergovernmental payments was an important event. Although payments from the Irish government ceased, the UK government instructed its Treasury to continue making interest and principal repayments. As a result, the risk premium on the bonds the UK government had guaranteed fell to about zero. Our findings are consistent with persistent ambiguity about fiscal responsibility far-beyond sovereign breakup. We discuss the political and economic forces behind the Irish and UK governments´ decisions, and suggest lessons for modern-day states that are eyeing dissolution. "Further, in view of all the historical circumstances, it is not equitable that the Irish people should be obliged to pay away these moneys" - Eamon De Valera, 12 October 1932

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: QUCEH Working Paper Series ; No. 14-06

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Economic History: Financial Markets and Institutions: Europe: Pre-1913 ; Economic History: Financial Markets and Institutions: Europe: 1913- ; International Financial Markets
• Subject: state dissolution ; sovereign default ; Irish land bonds ; Dublin Stock Exchange

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Foley-Fisher, Nathan ; McLaughlin, Eoin
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Queen's University Centre for Economic History (QUCEH)
• (where): Belfast
• (when): 2014

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/100261
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET