追踪20世纪70年代以来发展中国家债务演化的世界银行数据表明，如果一国的偿付额等于或大于其出口额的十分之一，其陷入债务困境的概率就会增加九倍（达到五分之一 ） — —今天的新发行国中每三个就有一个在债券到期时面临这一情景。
World Bank data tracking the evolution of developing-country debt since the 1970s show that the probability of a country falling into debt distress increases nine-fold (to a one-in-five chance) if its repayments are equivalent to more than one-tenth of its exports – a situation that one in three of today’s new issuers could face when their bonds come due.