With their ratings closely watched by investors, the agencies' verdict on the soundness of governments' finances can raise the costs of borrowing for a country to unsustainable levels, as the Greek case has shown.
Pēc tam, kad aģentūras Grieķijai bija ielikušas sliktas atzīmes par tās finanšu stāvokli, šīs valsts aizņēmumu procentu likmes sakāpa mākoņos.