LONDON, Oct 16 - Record debts, high interest rates, the costs of climate change, health and pension spending as populations age and fractious politics are stoking fears of a financial market crisis in big developed economies.
They do not expect a developed economy to struggle paying debt, but say governments must deliver credible fiscal plans, raise taxes and boost growth to keep finances manageable. Heightened geopolitical tensions add to costs. "If you have an accident, or a combination of events, then you go into an adverse non-linear dynamic sort of process. That is something which is a real possibility."
Yellen told the Wall Street Journal last week the government was committed to a"sustainable fiscal policy" and the budget could be adjusted to ensure that. Rome's debt ratio rising again would make a downgrade more likely. That risks"significant ramifications" for southern Europe, said M&G Investments's Jim Leaviss.