Recent developments in private market financing for developing countries are assessed in this report by the Policy Development and Review Department of the IMF. The last year has witnessed rapid change, as several major debtors have reached agreement with bank creditors on debt restructuring packages, and middle income countries have re-entered international capital markets. As a result the key external finance issues for developing countries concern management of spontaneous flows rather than dealing with existing debt. Nevertheless, debt problems remain severe and debtors and international financiers need to give continuing attention to solve the related problems.

Dated September 1999

Dated May 1998. On cover: Financial crises: causes and indicators