Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy from edX

The course explains the joint International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) MTDS framework and provides comprehensive training on the accompanying analytical tool, the MTDS AT. The MTDS AT is useful for analyzing quantitatively the cost-risk characteristics of an existing debt portfolio, as well as the cost-risk trade-offs of alternative financing strategies. Participants are taught how to develop financing strategies by taking account of the composition of the existing debt portfolio, developments in key macroeconomic and market conditions, potential sources of financing, and linkages with broader medium-term macroeconomic framework, including debt sustainability.

This course was jointly developed by the IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM) and the IMF Institute for Capacity Development in collaboration with the WB and funded by the Debt Management Facility (DMF).

What you'll learn

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the framework for the development and formulation of a medium-term public debt management strategy.

2. Explain why the framework matters for sustainable economic growth and development.

3. Understand the role of the Analytical Tool in debt strategy formulation.

4. Measure the costs and risks associated with a country’s existing and potential future public debt portfolios, using a range of indicators.

5. Generate projections of key macroeconomic variables and market prices for use in debt strategy analysis.

6. Develop suitable future financing strategies for comparison.

7. Understand how different financing strategies impact the evolution of the public debt portfolio and its cost and risk characteristics over time, considering initial macroeconomic and financing conditions.

8. Prepare a medium-term debt management strategy (DMS) document based on a chosen strategy.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops professional expertise in government debt management, which is highly relevant in the public sector

Taught by recognized leaders in global financial institutions such as IMF and World Bank

Provides a comprehensive toolkit and framework for managing public debt

Examines current economic and market conditions relevant to public debt management

Reviews summary

Medium-term debt management foundations

Learners say this interesting course is a solid grounding in the basics of medium-term debt management. Many found it dry at first, but later modules that involve running simulations and evaluating strategies were more engaging. However, they wish there were more real-life examples, a better forum, and higher-quality presentations.

The course gets more engaging later on.

"The course become quite interesting toward the end of the course in Module 4, where you run simulations and evaluate different strategies."

The forum is not very active.

"Discussions at the forum were non-existent, if not very limited."

The course material is dry at first.

"The first few modules focus on the technical aspect of the Analytical Tool, a Excel file with built in macros, which is available to you. The study material was quite dry, which I found it like a manual for a software."

"You will spend more time reading the text rather watching videos."

The course lacks real-world examples.

"The quality of the presentation was not really good."

"There were very limited real-life examples on successes and failures, which could add color to the study material."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy with these activities:

Review Linear Algebra

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This course requires a strong foundation in solving systems of linear equations and matrix operations.

Browse courses on Linear Algebra

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Go over lecture notes and complete practice problems from your previous course in linear algebra.

Solve financial mathematics problems

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Practicing financial mathematics problems will help you develop the analytical skills needed to solve financial problems.

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Review the formulas and concepts of financial mathematics.
Solve practice problems from textbooks or online resources.
Join a study group or work with a tutor to discuss problems and learn from others.

Explore the IMF's Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) Framework

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Enhance your understanding of the IMF's approach to debt sustainability analysis, which is a key component of the MTDS framework.

Browse courses on Debt Sustainability

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Review the IMF's DSA Toolkit
Complete online tutorials on DSA methodologies
Apply the DSA framework to a real-world case study

Ten other activities

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Compile a Glossary of Key Terms and Concepts

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Build your understanding of the specialized terminology used in debt management, improving your comprehension and retention of course content.

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Create a list of key terms and concepts covered in the course
Define each term clearly and concisely
Organize the glossary alphabetically or by topic

Read 'Macroeconomics' by Olivier Blanchard

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of macroeconomic concepts and theories.

View Fiscal Policy under Low Interest Rates on Amazon

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Read each chapter thoroughly and take notes.
Summarize the key concepts and theories in your own words.
Discuss the book with classmates or a study group.

Practice Cost-Risk Analysis

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Refresh your understanding of key debt management principles and cost-risk analysis techniques to better engage with the course materials.

Browse courses on Debt Sustainability

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Solve practice problems on debt sustainability analysis
Analyze case studies of successful debt management strategies
Use the MTDS AT tool to conduct cost-risk analysis exercises

Follow tutorials on data analysis using Python

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Python is a widely used programming language for data analysis.

Browse courses on Machine Learning

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Find online tutorials or courses on data analysis using Python.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step and complete the practice exercises.
Apply the techniques you learn to analyze real-world datasets.

Participate in Peer Review Sessions

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Engage with fellow learners to discuss course concepts, share insights, and provide feedback on assignments, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

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Join a study group or online forum
Discuss course materials, ask questions, and exchange ideas
Provide constructive feedback on peers' work

Develop a personal financial plan

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Developing a personal financial plan will help you apply the principles of financial management.

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Define your financial goals and objectives.
Gather your financial information, including income, expenses, and assets.
Analyze your spending habits and identify areas where you can save money.
Create a budget that outlines your income and expenses, and stick to it.
Develop an investment plan to help you reach your financial goals.

Create a presentation on the impact of inflation

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Creating a presentation on the impact of inflation will help you understand the economic and financial risks associated with rising prices.

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Research the causes and consequences of inflation.
Gather data on historical inflation rates.
Analyze the impact of inflation on different economic sectors and individuals.
Develop recommendations for mitigating the negative effects of inflation.

Draft a Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy

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Apply the concepts learned in the course to develop a comprehensive debt management strategy, solidifying your understanding of the framework and its practical applications.

Browse courses on Debt Management

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Select a hypothetical country and gather relevant economic and financial data
Analyze the country's existing debt portfolio and macroeconomic conditions
Develop and evaluate alternative financing strategies using the MTDS AT tool
Prepare a written draft of the medium-term debt management strategy

Attend a career fair or industry event

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Networking events provide an opportunity to connect with professionals in the field.

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Research upcoming career fairs or industry events.
Prepare your resume and practice your elevator pitch.
Attend the event and network with professionals.

Attend a workshop on financial modeling

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Financial modeling is a valuable skill for financial analysts and other professionals.

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Find a workshop on financial modeling that fits your level of experience.
Attend the workshop and participate actively.
Apply the techniques you learn to build financial models for your own projects.

Career center

Learners who complete Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Debt Manager

A Debt Manager is responsible for managing the debt of a company or government. The course titled Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy can help build a foundation for this role by explaining the framework for the development and formulation of a medium-term public debt management strategy. This course was jointly developed by the IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM) and the IMF Institute for Capacity Development in collaboration with the WB and funded by the Debt Management Facility (DMF).

See salaries and explore the career path for Debt Manager

Risk Analyst

A Risk Analyst identifies, assesses, and mitigates financial risks. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course can help build a foundation for this role by providing training on how to measure the costs and risks associated with a country’s existing and potential future public debt portfolios, using a range of indicators.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Quantitative Analyst

A Quantitative Analyst uses mathematical and statistical methods to analyze financial data. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course can help build a foundation for this role by providing training on the accompanying analytical tool, the MTDS AT.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Loan Officer

A Loan Officer evaluates loan applications, determines creditworthiness, and manages loan portfolios. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course can help build a foundation for a Loan Officer by explaining the framework for the development and formulation of a public debt management strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Loan Officer

Credit Analyst

A Credit Analyst assesses the creditworthiness of borrowers. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course can help build a foundation for this role by providing training on how to measure the costs and risks associated with a country’s existing and potential future public debt portfolios, using a range of indicators.

See salaries and explore the career path for Credit Analyst

Bond Trader

A Bond Trader buys and sells bonds for clients. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course can help build a foundation for this role by providing training on the accompanying analytical tool, the MTDS AT. This tool is useful for analyzing quantitatively the cost-risk characteristics of an existing debt portfolio, as well as the cost-risk trade-offs of alternative financing strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bond Trader

Investment Banker

An Investment Banker provides financial advice to companies and governments. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course may help build a foundation for Investment Banking by providing training on how to develop suitable future financing strategies for comparison.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Operations Research Analyst

An Operations Research Analyst uses mathematical and statistical methods to improve organizational efficiency. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course may be useful to someone in this role because it teaches how to develop suitable future financing strategies for comparison.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Portfolio Manager

A Portfolio Manager develops and manages investment portfolios for individuals and institutions. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course may help build a foundation for a role in Portfolio Management by providing training on the accompanying analytical tool, the MTDS AT.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Economist

An Economist researches and analyzes economic data to make forecasts and provide advice on economic policy. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course may be useful to someone in this role because it teaches how to generate projections of key macroeconomic variables and market prices for use in debt strategy analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist

Management Consultant

A Management Consultant provides advice to businesses on how to improve their operations. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course may be useful to someone in this role because it teaches how to understand the framework for the development and formulation of a medium-term public debt management strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses data to solve business problems. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course may be useful to someone in this role because it teaches how to generate projections of key macroeconomic variables and market prices for use in debt strategy analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Actuary

An Actuary uses mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk and uncertainty. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course may be useful to someone in this role because it teaches how to measure the costs and risks associated with a country’s existing and potential future public debt portfolios, using a range of indicators.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst applies advanced financial models to analyze and predict market trends in multiple industries. The course titled Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy may be useful to someone in this role because it teaches how to analyze the cost-risk characteristics of an existing debt portfolio, as well as the cost-risk trade-offs of alternative financing strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Financial Planner

A Financial Planner helps individuals and families manage their finances. The Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy course may be useful to someone in this role because it teaches how to understand the framework for the development and formulation of a medium-term public debt management strategy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner