Distinguish between debt forgiveness and debt retirement?
Debt retirement refers to the paying off of a debt in order to
avoid future interest payments, this can only be done if the
current funds available are able to clear the outstanding balance
of the debt.
Debt forgiveness on the other hand can be considered to be an
amnesty by lending institution for countries who are heavily
indebted, this is usually done to help alleviate the debt burden
faced by such countries.
Therefore the difference between debt retirement and debt
forgiveness is that one is paid off by the country who is able to
pay off the debt and the other is an amnesty given to remove the
debt for countries who cannot afford to pay it off.
