Debt Conversion in Latin America: Panacea or Pandemic

85, tables, notes, some wear to cover edges. Overseas Development Council Policy Essay No. 2. Debt conversion has been hailed as the salvation of Latin American debtors; conversely, it has also been labeled a deceptive and dangerous debt management tool. This essay suggests there is a wide scope for innovative design and management of conversion programs. Such policies continue to provide a promising debt management option for many Latin American debtor countries. Four countries' experiments with debt conversionare reviewed. The case of Chile illustrates the regulatory and financial issues surrounding debt conversion policy, the life cycle of a mature debt conversion program, and the trade-offs implicit in designing a program. Theexperiences of Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico illustrate the diverse roles that debt conversion can play in shaping debt negotiation and economic reform strategies.