On the pricing of GDP-linked financial products

This paper discusses the pricing of GDP-linked financial products. GDP-linked bonds for instance are bonds which pay a coupon tied to the changes of GDP (Gross Domestic Product): if economic growth is low, the coupon decreases while a strong economic rise leads to a higher coupon. Therefore these innovative financial instruments are able to translate changes in the business cycle and long-term prospects into changes in the issuing country's debt service, taking into account GDP development. Against the background of a growing interest in macro-indexed financial instruments and Argentinas very recent offer to issue GDP-linked bonds, different characteristics of GDP-linked bonds are briefly discussed and a simple pricing approach for GDP-linked bonds and European options on GDP development is provided assuming a Black-Scholes type environment.