Category Archives: Public sector productivity

The euro’s leverage of competitiveness and its significance for the contrasting economic performance of Germany and Greece

Thanos Skouras, Professor Emeritus at the Athens University of Economics and Business revisits the notion of competitiveness with a view to its historical roots, draws a distinction between “essential” and “apparent” competitiveness, and applies the concepts to a discussion of Greece’s … Continue reading

Posted in General, Labour market, Macroeconomics, Political economy, Product market, Public sector productivity, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The Fiscal Crisis is a Crisis in Trust

The sources of the fiscal crisis have been different, but the prescribed measures amount to two: achieve budget surpluses to start reducing the size of the debt, and undertake the necessary reforms to create or boost the productive base, so … Continue reading

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A debate between German and Greek economists on growth and austerity in Greece

On 10 July 2013, an interesting debate on the Greek crisis took place between Daniel Gros, the director of the Brussels-based research institute CEPS, Gikas Hardouvelis, professor of Finance at the University of Piraeus and Chief economist at Eurobank, and … Continue reading

Posted in Banking and finance, Economic development, Europe, Labour market, Product market, Public finance, Public sector productivity | 1 Comment

Panel discussion on “GREXITING the economic crisis”

On March 6, 2013, a panel discussion on the Greek economic crisis took place at the London School of Economics. This was part of a broader set of events taking place during the week of March 4-8, as part of … Continue reading

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Salary Cuts and Competitiveness

Promotion of competitiveness in the international market for goods and services, especially for fiscally troubled countries, is both an objective of European Union policies and a prerequisite for the longer-run viability and repayment of public debt. Massive horizontal salary cuts … Continue reading

Posted in Economic development, Economic research, Europe, Labour market, Macroeconomics, Public sector productivity | 1 Comment

Reforming the Greek income tax structure: time for a flat tax?

The Greek tax system is particularly complex, suffers from lack of transparency, is conducive to noncompliance and—since the tax burden predominantly falls on those who cannot evade or (legally) avoid—it is also unfair. Christos Kotsogiannis discusses a reform for personal … Continue reading

Posted in Public finance, Public sector productivity | 3 Comments

Quo vadis Graecia?

Where goest thou Greece? While the Greek economy is falling off the proverbial cliff, this question stays on the mind of world leaders, keeps Brussels bureaucrats awake at night, and intrudes on the daily lives of  4 million Greek households. … Continue reading

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Germany must lead or pull the plug: Greek Economists for Reform interviewed in Die Welt

German newspaper Die Welt interviewed three founding members of Greek Economists for Reform in its issue of June 28, 2012, coinciding with the important European Summit. The newspaper noted that numerous economists around the world express views on Greece and … Continue reading

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The Greek crisis and the road ahead

Eleven prominent Greek academic economists, eight of whom are founding members of this blog, write about the Greek crisis. They argue that although the crisis has an important European dimension, its root causes lie in Greece and especially in the … Continue reading

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On the lack, the need, and the possibility of a reform dynamic

Nikos Vettas argues that the Greek economy can exit its current deep crisis only if a strong dynamic for reform develops. While this has been explained by many analysts since the crisis became apparent, the focus of economic policy in … Continue reading

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