Agora
Greece is gasping for a deal
The Greek government made another payment to the International Monetary Fund earlier this month. This time it was just 450 million euros, a relatively manageable amount compared to the 1.5 billion that Greece had to pay back to the IMF in March. Each of these payments brings relief that a possible default has been avoided, but they also bring greater anxiety that a default is getting closer.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Politics (385), Economy (328), Greece (495)
DTA may spell new trouble for Greek banks
Almost twelve months after Greek banks’ capital increases of 8.3 billion euros and six months after the European Central Bank’s comprehensive assessment did not unveil any capital shortfall, capital concerns could emerge again for local lenders.
Contributor: Manos Giakoumis
Categories: Economy (328), Greece (495)
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 (281), Politics (385), Economy (328), Greece (495)
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 (385), Economy (328), Greece (495)
Sowing the seeds of anomie in Greece
In his opening speech to Labour MPs after the party’s historic election win in May 1997, Tony Blair implored the party’s lawmakers to be “whiter than white, purer than pure”. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Politics (385), Society (140), Greece (495)