By 2030, global public debt will approach or maybe even surpass 100% of the world’s GDP. Much of it remains “unidentified,” as International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports reveal. Contingent liabilities, such as State Owned Enterprises (SOE) debt, are especially problematic. Hidden debt remains a constant feature of debt crises. But will closing the transparency gaps help address the access to finance and unsustainable debt conundrum? The picture is grim. Low- and middle-income countries borrow more and at higher costs than at any point in history, crowding out investment in essential public goods and services and placing a majority of these countries in high debt vulnerability. As the fiscal space shrinks, development priorities are set aside.  […]