The cost of servicing the debt was and still is, for many countries, the principal expense for the public purse, in hard currency, and this has produced a situation which is the cause of a huge "negative net transfer 'of financial resources from the South to the North, that is from the poorer to the richer countries.
Lainan korkojen maksu vaihdettavassa valuutassa on ollut ja on monille maille merkittävin menoerä valtion kassasta. Tämä on johtanut nettotappiotilanteeseen, jossa suuret rahavarat siirtyvät etelästä pohjoiseen eli köyhiltä rikkaille.