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Estonia 'AA-/A-1+' Ratings Affirmed; Outlook Stable
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OVERVIEW
- Estonia has the lowest debt burden in the eurozone thanks to a strong
political commitment to fiscal balance and a long track record of minimal
deficits.
- Estonia's external balance sheet has returned to a modest debtor position.
- We are affirming our 'AA-/A-1+' ratings on Estonia.
- The outlook is stable.
RATING ACTION
On June 8, 2018, S&P Global Ratings affirmed its 'AA-/A-1+' long- and
short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Estonia. The
outlook is stable.
OUTLOOK
The stable outlook balances Estonia's strengthening credit fundamentals as its
ongoing strong economic growth sees income levels move closer to peers,
against the potential that imbalances could re-emerge, possibly undermining
this convergence.
In the longer term, we could raise our ratings on Estonia if it achieved
income levels materially closer to the eurozone average by improving
productivity and raising the importance of high value–added sectors in its
economy.
We could consider lowering the ratings if we saw certain factors increasingly
weigh on economic development. Should a credit-fueled asset price bubble or
significant external imbalances re-emerge, or persistent rapid wage growth
undermine the country's competitiveness, the ratings could come under
pressure. We could also see downward pressure on the ratings if geopolitical
or regional security risks escalate. We see such developments as very unlikely
due to Estonia's NATO membership; nonetheless, any event of that nature would
likely have severe consequences.
RATIONALE
The ratings on Estonia are supported by its strong and predictable
institutions and its membership of the eurozone. The country's economic growth
has picked up significantly recently and while we expect sustained real GDP
growth rates above 3% over our forecast horizon, Estonia's income levels
remain lower in terms of GDP per capita than most other eurozone members. On
the other hand, the country has consistently maintained a balanced fiscal
outturn, which explains Estonia's comparatively high fiscal buffers as well as
its very low gross public debt burden. The projected current account surpluses
will also lead to continued external deleveraging in the near term, after an
already significant reduction in its external indebtedness post the 2008-2009
global financial crisis.
Institutional and Economic Profile: Strong economic development over the next
few years but from a comparatively low base
- Estonia has a track record of resilient political institutions committed
to delivering solid public finances.
- As a small, open economy, Estonia will remain highly exposed to
developments in its main export partners in the eurozone and Scandinavia.
- Recent growth in construction does not represent a significant economic
threat compared to the pre-crisis years because growth rates will
decelerate; we also observe limited growth in capital allocation to this
sector.
The Estonian labor market remains a primary constraint to medium- and
long-term economic growth prospects, despite ongoing reform efforts and recent
positive developments.