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Misleading Projections for Country Loan Repayment

ID-82-35 Published: May 13, 1982. Publicly Released: May 13, 1982.
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Highlights

GAO performed a loan-by-loan reconciliation of the databases which the Department of the Treasury and certain agencies keep on debts owed to the United States. The databases are used for reporting to Congress on the value of U.S. foreign assistance loans and guarantees outstanding by category and country and for making debt-service projections. The projections are also used by agencies to analyze the economic situation in various countries, make economic forecasts, develop policy options, and prepare budget estimates and congressional presentations.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Treasury The Secretary of the Treasury should develop and implement procedures that remove rescheduled interest and amortization payments and roll these payments into a rescheduled loan at the same time the administering agencies adjust their own projections for debt rescheduling. Special procedures should be developed for debt-service projections.
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Treasury The Department of the Treasury should furnish the database to reporting agencies for annual verification and reconciliation.
Closed – Not Implemented
Because the Department of the Treasury is no longer using its computer program to make loan projections, this recommendation is not relevant.
Department of the Treasury The Secretary of the Treasury should require reporting agencies to update annually the projected interest rates.
Closed – Not Implemented
Because the Department of the Treasury is no longer using its computer program to make loan projections, this recommendation is not relevant.

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Topics

Accounting errorsCurrent services estimatesDebt collectionFederal aid to foreign countriesFinancial managementForeign loansInterest ratesInternational economic relationsLoan repaymentsProjections