Agora
Posts by Bob Traa & Jens Bastian
Where is Odysseus? Part 2 - Uncertainty
We follow up on Blog 16 of April 2022 and continue to be in search of Odysseus, who is aiming to guide the people of Greece back home from a high debt ratio in the economy to a much lower debt ratio. The Odysseus metaphor was developed in the book “The Macroeconomy of Greece” published in 2019 with data through mid-2018.
Contributor: Bob Traa & Jens Bastian
Categories: Politics (387), Economy (331), Society (142), Greece (498)
Where is Odysseus? Part 1 - Demographics
In 2019, one of us wrote a book about the Greek economy called “The Macroeconomy of Greece. Odysseus’ Plan for the Long Journey Back to Debt Sustainability.” This book was published before the Covid Pandemic emerged. It was based on data through 2018.
Contributor: Bob Traa & Jens Bastian
Categories: Politics (387), Economy (331), Society (142), Greece (498)
The Parable of the Populists and the Contemplatives
Let us think of a factory that makes widgets that consumers like to buy. The management of the factory then sees an opportunity to buy a new piece of equipment, a machine, that can double widget production once it is operational.
Contributor: Bob Traa & Jens Bastian
Categories: Europe (282), Politics (387), Economy (331), Society (142)
The case for a general government balance sheet
Over the course of the past year we have drawn attention to the need for a general government balance sheet. One reason for this effort rests in the observation that today’s balance sheet of a government impacts future generations.
Contributor: Bob Traa & Jens Bastian
Categories: Europe (282), Economy (331), Greece (498)
Public sector capital stock in Greece and the Euro-19
Capital is a key input in the production function of a country’s economy. It makes another crucial factor, namely labor, more productive if such capital is efficient (quality) and sufficient (quantity).
Contributor: Bob Traa & Jens Bastian
Categories: Europe (282), Economy (331), Greece (498)