DebtTalks

Students take on sovereign debt : cure or prevention?

Sciences Po students Marius Guerin and Tom Krauthausen join Paola Subacchi to discuss what the G20 should prioritise as the United Kingdom prepares to take the chair in 2026. Drawing on their final projects for Paola’s course on managing sovereign deb...

Global debt in a higher debt world

Global debt is entering a more expensive and uncertain phase. Drawing on the OECD Global Debt Report 2026, Paola Subacchi talks to Nicolas Pinaud about the outlook for sovereign and corporate debt, rising refinancing risks, and the growing burden of d...

The price of power: who pays for critical minerals?

In this episode, Paola Subacchi is joined by Nicolas Niarchos to explore the growing global race for critical metals, especially those powering the batteries behind our digital and green transitions. They unpack the supply chains at the core of modern...

Digging out of debt: sovereign finance in commodity economies

In this episode, Paola Subacchi sits down with Kamran Ahmad to unpack a persistent paradox: why countries rich in natural resources so often struggle to build lasting prosperity. The conversation dives into the complexities of financing commodity extr...

Debt at the tipping point: warning signs and viable options

In this episode of DebtTalks, Paola Subacchi and Martin Kessler explore what happens when a country begins to face mounting debt pressures. What are the early warning signs, and when does concern turn into crisis? The discussion also delves into the o...

Mobilising capital for economic transformation in Latin America

Episode 13 of DebtTalks dives into how Latin America can unlock domestic finance to power - funding major infrastructure while supporting SMEs - to the rise of innovative tools like green and thematic bonds in the Caribbean, the episode explores what’...

From crisis bonds to long-term investment: financing Europe’s future

As the European Union has emerged as a major bond issuer since the Covid-19 pandemic, this episode explores the fast-growing market for sovereign, sub-sovereign and supranational debt. Paola Subacchi and Lawrence Duquesne-Garner trace the EU’s journey...

Retrenching aid in a volatile world

As advanced economies cut international aid, Paola Subacchi and Clemence Landers assess the consequences for developing countries and the global economy. As funding declines, the risks multiply: an aid crisis can deepen debt distress, evolve into a br...

Inside Africa’s debt toolkit

In this episode Paola Subacchi and Barthélemy Faye explore the shifting landscape of finance for development in Africa. As countries expand their access to capital markets and diversify funding sources, new financial tools are reshaping how debt is ma...

Debt in a low-growth world

This episode features Paola Subacchi in conversation with former EU Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni. They explore how ageing, climate pressures and, more recently, defence spending are driving public debt higher, while growth remains elusive and interest...

Closing the financing gaps: innovative finance for developing countries

Join Paola Subacchi and Guillaume Arditti for a lively and engaging conversation on financial constraints that developing countries face – and how innovative financial tools can help unlock the funding they need to drive development. Guillaume Ardit...

Advancing global financial reforms in a turbulent multilateral context

Join Paola Subacchi and Piera Tortora for an in-depth discussion on how international policy cooperation can respond to pressing global challenges, including debt and climate. The episode also explores the Pact for Prosperity, People and the Planet –...

What’s next for Ukraine ?

In this episode DebtTalks departs from our usual long-view approach to engage directly with the latest headlines. Paola and Elina Ribakova explore the financial options available to Ukraine amid intense political uncertainty. Elina Ribakova is Non-re...

Finance for social good : the Council of Europe Development Bank

In this episode Paola Subacchi and Carlo Monticelli explore the transformative role finance can play in driving social change. Carlo shares insights into the Council of Europe Development Bank’s mission to promote investment that empowers communities...

Debt and Politics

This episode features political scientists Layna Mosley and Peter Rosendorff in conversation with Paola Subacchi about the domestic and international politics that surround sovereign finance. Since politics plays a crucial role in development finance,...

Swapping Debt for Development

How can countries in critical debt positions secure the financing they need to invest in critical infrastructure? And when should they rely on grants instead of loans – even at concessional rates? In this episode Paola Subacchi hosts Pablo Saavedra fr...

Debt Management in Practice

In this episode, Paola sits down with Nicole Kearse to explore the intricacies of debt management. Drawing on Nicole’s extensive experience at the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), they discuss debt sustainability, capacity building, and the stra...

Debt crises and multilateral solutions

In this episode, reflecting on the past five years – marked by crises that have left many countries struggling to manage their debt – Paola Subacchi and Ceyla Pazarbasioglu discuss multilateral policy initiatives such as the Debt Service Suspension I...

Episode 16. Sustainable Development Goals: where do we go from here ?

In this episode Paola Subacchi and Thomas Melonio examine the future of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the likelihood of achieving them by 2030. They discuss how to navigate trade-offs and shape a realistic transition path – one that may...

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Episode 15. Lessons learned: a practitioner’s experience

In this episode of DebtTalks, Paola Subacchi hosts Thomas Lambert for an in-depth conversation on recent cases of sovereign debt restructuring and how they have been managed. The discussion explores the complexities of bond markets, coordination chall...