Macroeconomic Imbalance, External Debt, and the Financial System in Laos

External public debt exacerbation and macroeconomic destabilization in Laos are attributed to the subsequent complications of excessive foreign capital investments in the mining, power, and transport infrastructure sectors during the economic boom of the 2010s. This study examines the Lao economy from three perspectives: real sector growth, the characteristics of external fundraising, and the domestic financial system. Our findings suggest that the external debt issue still appears to be under control, real sector growth is expected to be strong in the medium term, and the less-developed financial system has not realized its potential for fiscal financing and macroeconomic stability.