International Economic Terms

English-language economic definitions generated from approved international institutional sources.

  • daily processing

    Daily processing refers to the recurring work an organisation performs to keep its operations running from one working day to the next. Depending on the context, …

  • day-count convention

    A day-count convention determines the portion of a year represented by an interest-bearing period. It combines a method for counting elapsed days with a specified year-length …

  • debit card (card with a debit function)

    A debit card lets a customer spend money already available in a linked bank or payment account. It can typically be used at merchants, online, and …

  • debt (in the context of the financial accounts)

    Corporate debt is the portion of non-financial companies’ outstanding financial obligations captured in the national accounts. It is recorded using end-period market prices and includes borrowing, …

  • debt market

    The debt market comprises the channels through which governments, companies and other borrowers obtain financing by offering claims that require future payments. Investors can hold these …

  • debt security

    Debt securities are tradable claims through which an entity raises funds and commits to repay investors under predetermined terms. Investor compensation can take the form of …

  • debt service

    Debt service refers to the cash required to keep a borrowing arrangement current, including interest charges and any principal due. It may describe amounts actually paid …

  • debt service-to-income (DSTI) ratio

    The debt service-to-income (DSTI) ratio shows the portion of a household's disposable earnings needed to cover scheduled payments on its loans. It is used by lenders …

  • default

    Default is a failure by a participant to perform a material duty under the applicable contract or operating rules, triggering any remedies provided for that situation. …

  • defaulter pays

    Defaulter pays is a risk-management approach in which a participant is responsible for ensuring that its failure does not impose an unfunded loss on others. Protection …