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Planet Money

The obscure pool of money the US used to bail out Argentina

Nov 15, 2025 · 29m
AI Summary
  • The U.S. offered Argentina a $20 billion loan through the Exchange Stabilization Fund, an obscure Treasury Department pool of money requiring no Congressional approval
  • The ESF is a Depression-era 'slush fund' used only once at scale for an emerging market bailout—Mexico in 1995
  • The episode examines whether the Argentina loan will succeed like the Mexico case or face different challenges

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