Agora
Posts on March 2014
No victory, just plenty of misery
It has become evident over the last few weeks that the eurozone’s pro-austerity camp is trying to defend its record, either through the ground it is afforded by influential media or through commentators that end up resembling cheerleaders rather than sober judges of the events that have unfolded in the single currency area.
Contributor: Yiannis Mouzakis
Categories: Europe (279), Politics (374), Economy (316), Society (135), Greece (479)
![Photo by Can Esenbel [www.mundanepleasures.com]](resources/toolip/img-thumb/2013/10/16/cityconstruction_agora_esenbel-large.jpg "Photo by Can Esenbel [www.mundanepleasures.com]")
A return to capital markets for Greek banks but no return to domestic lending
In the future we may look back on the past two weeks as a watershed moment for Greek banks following the onset of the twin financial and sovereign debt crisis in 2009. After extensive and well prepared international road shows, financial institutions in Athens attracted unprecedented levels of foreign investors' interest for bond placements and capital-raising initiatives.
Contributor: Jens Bastian
Categories: Economy (316), Greece (479)
Come back Cleisthenes, all is forgiven
Cleisthenes has a lot to answer for. Yes, he laid the groundwork for Athenian democracy in 507 BC but he also did it after being recalled from exile. As much as he helped transform ancient Greece, he a left dangerous legacy for its modern version. Since Cleisthenes, too many Greek politicians believe that some time away from the limelight can absolve them of any sins and, like the man from classical Athens, make a heroic return.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Politics (374), Greece (479)
![Photo by Myrto Papadopoulos [www.myrtopapadopoulos.com]](resources/toolip/img-thumb/2013/10/09/poverty_myrto_0910-large.jpg "Photo by Myrto Papadopoulos [www.myrtopapadopoulos.com]")
The Greek crisis we don’t see
The economic impact of the Greek crisis has been well publicised. A recession that began in 2008 has led to GDP contracting by a quarter, while unemployment has risen above 27 percent. Greece’s fiscal consolidation effort has also received much attention. A general government deficit of 15.6 percent in 2009 was transformed into a small surplus in 2013 – one of the sharpest adjustments the world has ever seen.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Economy (316), Society (135), Greece (479)
![Photo by Can Esenbel [www.mundanepleasure.com]](resources/toolip/img-thumb/2014/03/04/piano_800_esenbel_0403-large.jpg "Photo by Can Esenbel [www.mundanepleasure.com]")
Greece’s return to capital markets: Why not try a diaspora bond first?
Greece’s return to international capital markets during the course of 2014 is currently the talk of town in Athens. Sandwiched between Greece’s six-month EU presidency and reports of a primary budget surplus, whose size appears to be changing on a weekly basis, the objective of returning to capital markets is taking on ever more significance.
Contributor: Jens Bastian
Categories: Economy (316), Greece (479)