Contagion

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Definition: Contagion


Contagion


What is the dictionary definition of Contagion?

Dictionary Definition


When an economic crisis in one country’s bond or equity markets spreads to other countries which experience the same problems. The term comes from the more general definition of contagion, which is a highly transmittable disease.


Full Definition of Contagion


Contagion is the cross-border spread of financial shocks. Such international spillover means that economic or financial troubles that originate in one nation can affect others.

Contagion can occur at any time during a business cycle; not just at the trough. Thus, contagion is not necessarily related to a crisis, although this is when contagion is most apparent.

More specifically, contagion is the international spread of shocks in the absence of any shared shocks between the countries.

Cross-country Links

The links that connect countries are in part responsible for the spread of contagion. There are three main types of links. They are financial links, real links, and political links.

Financial links

Financial links are present between two nations when two they both use the same international financial system. When leveraged financial institutions face margin calls and the value of their collateral drops, as a result of adverse shocks in one nation, firms that have borrowed must raise their reserves. To do this, they sell off some of their holdings to the countries that have not yet been hit by the shocks. But what this does is it spreads the shocks to other economies.

Real links

Real links can be thought of as the economic relationships between countries and economic units, and are typically associated with global trade. When two nations engage in trade between themselves, a discount in one currency erodes the other nation’s competitive advantage. The result is that both countries’ currencies are devalued in order to restore balance in their external sectors.

International FDI is another example of real links.

Political links

Political ties between nations can affect shocks between countries. When crises or shocks occur, countries must devalue currencies. If the political ties are strong, the political cost of revaluing the rates is less.


Examples of Contagion in a sentence


The French stock market crisis was an immediate concern for everyone in the European Union, who rightfully feared a financial contagion that would spread to every surrounding country.

The contagion was released in an airport and was able to travel in an airborne manner, ensuring the quick transmission of the virus to many people.

Certain, incredibly dangerous contagions are kept locked away in high-security labs to avoid the risk of a pandemic. I fear the idea of access falling into the wrong hands.

 


Related Phrases


contagion effects
foreign exchange
crash


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Definition Sources


Definitions for Contagion are sourced/syndicated and enhanced from:

  • A Dictionary of Economics (Oxford Quick Reference)
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Accounting
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Business & Management

This glossary post was last updated: 23rd October, 2021 | 0 Views.