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A model with two essential elements, sovereign default and distortionary fiscal and monetary
policies, explains the interaction between sovereign debt, default risk and inflation in
emerging countries. We derive conditions under which monetary policy is actively used to
support fiscal policy and characterize the intertemporal tradeoffs that determine the choice
of debt. We show that in response to adverse shocks to the terms of trade or productivity,
governments reduce debt and deficits, and increase inflation and currency depreciation rates,
matching the patterns observed in the data for emerging economies.