Nations or markets with social or business activity with high economic growth and industrialisation prospects. EM (or global emerging markets, or GEM) tend to have lower debt to GDP ratios than developed nations, sub-investment grade debt ratings (see EMD), high growth rates, high inflation, relatively recent economic or political liberalisation and tend to be outside the OECD, or Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development. Foreign investment in these markets tends to come with tight restrictions.