External debt and crisis: The decline of the orthodox strategy

This article presents a general view of the reschedulings of Latin American debts with the private banking system during the period 1982-1985. The marked worsening of the conditions of indebtedness experienced by the debtors in the first round of negotiations in 1982-1983 has gradually given way to more favourable terms, above all in the most recent rescheduling (1984-1985). The creditors use market concepts to explain this phenomenon: the better terms represent a reward for good behaviour and the consequent lessening of risk.