Kokkonen, JoniCosta, Joana Soares2014-01-302014-01-302013-12-032013http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/13583This dissertation studies the determinants of the European debt ratings through macroeconomic data and whether those ratings were excessively downgraded during the Euro debt crisis. The results show that, according to previous studies, most of the assigned ratings matched predicted ratings during the crisis period. Ratings are also found to be strongly influenced by changes in the variable gross debt. However, only Portugal and Ireland have been downgraded excessively during the crisis period and Moody’s is the credit rating agency which has higher downgrades. Furthermore, the empirical finds show non-sticky ratings.engRatingCredit rating agenciesLinear transformationLogistic transformationInertia of ratingsmaster thesis201091496