MacroPolis

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.

Greece leads way in cutting spending on healthcare, finds OECD

Greece made the biggest reduction in its healthcare budget of any OECD country between 2009 and 2011, cutting spending by more than 11 percent, according to a report published on Thursday.

Seven in 10 Greeks raiding savings to pay bills, two in 10 have no deposits

Seven in 10 Greeks are raiding their savings in order to make ends meet, while two in 10 say they have no deposits at all, according to a new survey by Public Issue.

Nobody has less confidence in their government than the Greeks, OECD finds

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has published its annual Government at a Glance report for 2013. The study includes some interesting data on Greece, particularly with regard to people’s plummeting trust in decision makers.

Greek consumers take effort to lower prices into their own hands

By: Nick Malkoutzis

One of the common complaints in Greece over the past few years is that although wages and pensions have been reduced substantially, the prices of even basic goods remain high. The crisis has, however, prompted somewhat of an awakening among a section of Greek consumers.

High school pupils see answers to crisis in protest and emigration

Less than one percent of young Greeks believe that voting is a way to make their voice heard, according to a new survey that also suggests teenagers are feeling increasingly ignored by decision makers.

Fight against tax evasion yields results, reveals challenges

By: Nick Malkoutzis

Improving tax collection in Greece has been one of the dominant themes over the past three years as the government not only tries to boost its revenues but also aims to ensure greater fairness amongst taxpayers, which is a key factor towards increasing the acceptance of the challenging fiscal adjustment program the country embarked on in 2010.