An Unlimited Guarantee Requires Unlimited Access To Financing

Banks are different than countries, so the analogy is imprecise — but back when emerging economies had trouble rolling over their short-term dollar debts during the crises of 97-98, the G-7 never pledged to lend “any amount” needed.

Lending to countries through institutions like the IMF isn’t collateralized — but it also was never unconditional. The G-7’s guarantee of liquidity doesn’t seem to be linked to steps the banks could take to help themselves — like suspending dividend payments on their common stock.