Emerging Bond Markets and COVID-19: Evidence from Mexico

Christensen, Jens H. E.; Fischer, Eric; Shultz, Patrick

Journal Article

Emerging Bond Markets and COVID-19: Evidence from Mexico

Abstract: The pandemic caused by the coronavirus is depressing economic activity and severely straining government budgets globally. Without international support, the ability of emerging economies to weather this crisis will depend crucially on access to and the cost of borrowing in domestic government bond markets. Analyzing bond flows and risk premiums for Mexican government bonds during the pandemic gives some insights into a major emerging economy’s experience. Mexican risk premiums have increased more than 1 percentage point above predicted levels, pointing to tighter funding conditions for the Mexican government.

Keywords: covid-19; Financial crises - Mexico; Mexico; bond markets;