A Review of the Global Impact Bond Market in 2017

The Brookings Institution has sized the market for global impact bonds (SIBs), with 108 currently issued, 32 of which were signed in 2017. The United Kingdom is by far the largest provider of these bonds, designed to incent social performance while providing a monetary return to investors. Notably, the entrance of developing economies experimenting with SIBs is changing the typical structure and social imperatives set by the UK model, increasing the number of people served to more than 1,000 and diversifying from social welfare and economic development to include health.