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What are SDRs?

SDRs are international reserve assets issued by the IMF. Countries can use their SDRs to pay debts, bolster foreign reserves — thereby helping avert debilitating financial crises — or, by exchanging them for hard currency, fund purchases of essential goods. In times of crisis, the IMF can issue more SDRs to its members, providing immediate global relief at no cost to the US or its taxpayers.

Read more: CEPR’s “Special Drawing Rights” fact sheet.