Articles | Lowy Institute

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Debt

Energy

G20

Multilateral Development Banks
High rates and expensive oil create a global debt trap

Nischal Dhungel

While advanced economies debate the nuances of “soft landings”, low- and middle-income countries are caught in a pincer.
10 Feb 2026
Indonesia

Philippines

Thailand

Vietnam

Global Economy

Debt

Technology
What Southeast Asia’s platform-based credit boom doesn’t show

Hanif Santoso

Automated lending creates exposure faster than traditional risk metrics can detect it.
4 Dec 2025
Aid & Development

Debt

Africa
Markets have the money, developing countries need the projects – what’s stopping them?

Natalia Beghin

Investors assume developing economies are risky, but evidence shows the opposite.
26 Sep 2025
Debt

Energy

G20

Poverty

Trade

Africa
Show or substance? The African Union’s G20 test

Isel van Zyl , Jana de Kluiver

Under this year’s South African presidency of the global forum, it’s more important than ever for the Union to speak as one.
17 Jul 2025
Debt

United Nations
UN development summit shows who’s really fanning the flames

Melissa Conley Tyler

Seville’s sweltering UN conference exposed deep rifts between those pushing private finance and advocates for debt justice.
27 Jun 2025
Debt

United Nations
The Seville compromise: A move forward for development financing while Washington steps back

Grace Stanhope

What happens when the world’s biggest donor walks away?
26 May 2025
Debt

Trade

Global Issues

Migration

United States
The diminishing of US exceptionalism

Jenny Gordon

Visa bans, research cuts, and isolationist policies risk America’s global leadership and leave a void for China to fill.
19 May 2025
Global Economy

Debt

United States
The US dollar is everyone's problem

Stephen Grenville

A new book offers a chance to look back at the record of a distinguished economist.
16 Jan 2024
Development Assistance

Global Economy

Debt

Poverty

Trade

Coronavirus
Global economic prospects are the worst in decades but investing in the future could be the answer

Robert Walker

The World Bank reports on why global growth and poverty reduction are slowing but points to investment as a way forward.
27 Nov 2023
China

Global Economy

Debt

Global Issues

United States
Rise of the Redback

Selwyn Parker

The US dollar remain the dominant currency. But China – and others – are driving the yuan as an alternative.
24 Nov 2023
Debt

Climate change
De-risking developing country debt

Roland Rajah , Riley Duke

Debt suspension clauses should be rolled out by Western lenders, including Australia.
16 Nov 2023
Debt

G20
The G20’s approach on debt has failed

Mariza Cooray , Robert Walker

The “Common Framework” shows the perils of announcing solutions before governments have them.
31 Oct 2023
Australia and the Pacific

Australian Development Assistance

Australian Foreign Aid

Debt

Pacific Islands

China and the Pacific
Infrastructure for influence: Pacific Islands building spree

Meg Keen

Even with stabilising debt and higher revenues, the region’s needs still outpace funding. Partnerships are key.
15 Aug 2023
Global Economy

Debt

Climate change
The climate crisis demands sovereign debt justice

Connor O’Brien

Why should low-income countries pay the price for climate change?
8 Aug 2023
Sri Lanka

Debt

IMF
Sri Lanka’s deep debt bind

Mariza Cooray , Roland Rajah

Imposing losses on domestic creditors essentially imposes losses on the country itself.