MacroPolis

One in two Greek households rely on pensions to make ends meet

The main, and in many cases only, source of income for almost half of Greek households are pensions, whereas they rely on salaries most in just one in three cases, according to a new survey.

Despite pledges, Greeks uncertain and feel recovery will take years

Much of the government’s strategy for political survival and for retaining support for the fiscal adjustment programme relies on Greeks beginning to feel from this year that their country is turning the corner. A new poll published this week underlines just how big a challenge the coalition faces in convincing people that a recovery is on the way.

A third of Greek homeowners fear losing their properties in 2014

Roughly one in three Greeks fears losing their home in 2014 despite the restrictions on foreclosures the government has kept in place for the New Year.

Most popular society articles of 2013

Here are our three most popular articles from the society section in 2013. For those who have already read them, a big thank you from the Macropolis team. For those reading them for the first time, we hope it gives you an idea of what we do.

As EU presidency approaches, poll suggests Greeks are most isolated within Union

Greece is due to take over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union on January 1 but just days before it does so a new poll has suggested that of the citizens in all 28 member states Greeks feel least confident about the Union’s future and are the most detached from the bloc.

One in four Greeks in severe material deprivation; a eurozone outlier

Greece has the sixth highest rate of severe material deprivation among 30 European countries, with the lack of access to basics rising substantially for almost all age groups last year, according to new data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

For Greek families, electricity goes from given to must for survival

It is another sign of the way the Greek crisis has evolved over the last few years that for families in a developed country that is part of the eurozone electricity has turned into a much cherished commodity rather than a given.

Percentage of people in Greece at risk of poverty rises, tops EU list

The percentage of people living in Greece who are at risk of poverty rose substantially last year and almost a quarter of the country's population now falls into that category, which is the highest proportion in the European Union.

Newfound variety helps Greek winemakers enjoy exports boost

By: Nick Malkoutzis

One of the aims of Greece’s adjustment program has been to make the country more competitive, with a particular view towards boosting its exports. The main tool for this exercise has been the policy of internal devaluation, which has seen wages drop substantially.

Greeks not self-inflicting HIV but new cases have been rising markedly

The claim seemed absurd from the start and the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed on Tuesday that it had made an error in one of its reports, which stated that half of new HIV infections in Greece were “self-inflicted” so sufferers could claim state benefits.