The Sovereign Debt Crisis in Sri Lanka: Field Research and Data

The Sovereign Debt Crisis in Sri Lanka examines how a national debt default reaches far beyond financial markets and government balance sheets. Drawing on field interviews and economic data, the book traces the lasting effects of the 2022 crisis on everyday life -from inflation and rising taxes to stagnant wages and growing poverty.

At the same time, it looks back at the years preceding the default and asks which warning signs were already visible. By examining trade deficits, foreign exchange reserves, monetary policy, government debt and public finances, the study challenges some widely repeated explanations for the crisis and identifies indicators that may help us better understand - and perhaps prevent - future sovereign debt defaults.

A concise and accessible study of economic crisis, public policy and the human consequences of sovereign debt.