Agora
Posts in Economy
Greece and its lenders: Where do you start?
Since it was first recorded in 1944 by American public administrator David Lilienthal, the following anecdote has been told many times and in many ways: A traveller asks a local man for directions and, after much thought, the latter turns to the visitor and says: “My friend, I tell you; if I were you, I wouldn’t start from here.” As Greece and the eurozone remain some distance apart on how to conclude their bailout negotiations, it seems a good time to return to this tale.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Greece (519)
What in the world will we do without barbarians?
Just as the five-year anniversary of Greece’s first EU/IMF programme approaches - and despite marked procrastination in a number of other fronts - Greece’s coalition set up a parliamentary committee to investigate the country’s bankruptcy and the signing of its two memorandums with the troika.
Contributor: Yiannis Mouzakis
Categories: Politics (407), Economy (341), Greece (519)
Why Greece is asking for 1.2 bln back from the EFSF
Following the Eurogroup decision on February 20, Greece returned 10.9 billion (European Financial Stability Fund) EFSF bonds at the end of the previous month. That transaction reduced accordingly the country’s debt and the debt to GDP ratio by more than 6 percentage points.
Contributor: Manos Giakoumis
Categories: Europe (289), Economy (341), Greece (519)
Greece: The moment of truth is inexorably approaching
The Greek government faces a dire financial situation in the coming weeks, especially as lenders are unlikely to relent on the conditions of last month’s loan extension. In fact, Tsipras’ insistence on of pushing for a “political deal” is going nowhere: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who he will meet in Berlin next Monday, 23 March, is unlikely to deviate from her preference for technical, rule-based solutions.
Contributor: Wolfango Piccoli
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Greece (519)
Will the real men of unity please stand up?
At first it seemed like a harmless joke. “And now for one member state, all the men need to take off their ties,” said European Commission first vice-president Frans Timmermans at the end of a recent photo shoot for the College of Commissioners in Brussels.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Greece (519)