Global financial orders and credit rating agencies: disruptions and adaptations

Vol. 45 No. 1 (2025)

Jan-Mar / 2025
Published December 27, 2024
PDF-English
PDF-English

How to Cite

Machado, Pedro Lange. 2024. “Global Financial Orders and Credit Rating Agencies: Disruptions and Adaptations”. Brazilian Journal of Political Economy 45 (1):66-85. https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-31572025-3599.

Global financial orders and credit rating agencies: disruptions and adaptations

Pedro Lange Machado
Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento – CEBRAP, São Paulo/SP, Brasil.
Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 45 No. 1 (2025), Jan-Mar / 2025, Pages 66-85

Abstract

This paper addresses the possible disruption of the global financial order (GFO)
based on the behavior of S&P Global, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, century-old rating agencies,
in face of three potentially disruptive crises: the 2008 global financial crisis, the Covid-
19 pandemic and the climate breakdown. The main argument is that, historically, these agencies
have adapted to the GFOs in force, mirroring their institutional and ideological parameters
and thereby reflecting international tendencies. Based on an institutional historical analysis
and in light of the behavior of the agencies in the crises above, it calls into question the GFO
transition discussed by scholarship.

JEL Classification: F50; G24; N20.


Keywords: International financial order credit rating agency 2008 global financial crisis Covid-19 pandemic climate crisis