Consider the situation of La Nación, a hypothetical Latin American country. In 2010, La Nación was a net debtor to the rest of the world. Assume that all of La Nación’s foreign debt was dollar...

Consider the situation of La Nación, a hypothetical Latin American country. In 2010, La Nación was a net debtor to the rest of the world. Assume that all of La Nación’s foreign debt was dollar denominated, and at the end of 2010, its net private foreign debt was $75 billion and the official foreign debt of La Nación’s treasury was $55 billion. Suppose that the interest rate on these debts was 2.5% per annum (p.a.) over the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR), and no principal payments were due in 2011. International reserves of the Banco de Nación, La Nación’s central bank, were equal to $18 billion at the end of 2010 and earn interest at LIBOR. There were no other net foreign assets in the country. Because La Nación is growing very rapidly, there is great demand for investment goods in La Nación. Suppose that residents of La Nación would like to import $37 billion of goods during 2011. Economists indicate that the value of La Nación’s exports is forecast to be $29 billion of goods during 2011. Suppose that the Banco de Nación is prepared to see its international reserves fall to $5 billion during 2011. The LIBOR rate for 2011 is 4% p.a.

a. What is the minimum net capital inflow during 2011 that La Nación must have if it wants to see the desired imports and exports occur and wants to avoid having its international reserves fall below the desired level?

b. If this capital inflow occurs, what will La Nación’s total net foreign debt be at the end of 2011?