Why Reduction in Taxes is Not a Good Idea for Greece at the Moment

There is a growing number of politicians and academics in Greece, who argue that the solution to the country’s economic problems is a mixture of policies, which entail a reduction in taxes and government spending at the same time. Indeed, if we examine these two policy options separately, or apply them in another context, it would make sense. Reducing taxes would aim to stimulate consumption and investment, which could boost economic growth. A reduction in government spending would save money, improving the country’s public finances. However, in the case of Greece, there are several counter-arguments to these claims, which concern the efficiency of this combination.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

Events during the summer of 2015 bore an air of déjà vu. The initial gap between Greece and its partners was significant. The frequency of meetings increased as time (and cash) ran out, with little to show in terms of progress. The discussions were held at an increasingly higher political level, but the core of the discussions remained of a “technical nature”. At its climax, the Greek Prime Minister held a referendum whose two questions were incomprehensible for citizens. Then, the Greek government operated a complete U-turn, signing third Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) containing harsh(er) conditions. 

The Political Economy of the Eurozone: The Short-term and the Long-term View

Introduction

The key point of my talk is that EMU has two very different types of problems, depending on whether you think of the short or the long term.

• The short-term one is a combination of excessively low growth, massive sovereign debt because of the links between weak banks and governments, and no way out (weak banks increase sovereign debt, which translates into weak banks).
• The long-term one is that two very different types of economies were integrated into EMU, without a political mechanism that compensates for the negative effects of these differences.

Stop the Cuts and Fund the Reforms

Greece’s economy and society are imploding. GDP has declined by almost 25% since the start of the crisis. Unemployment has tripled and stands at 25%, with youth unemployment twice that. Crime is on the rise and so are racist incidents. Ideologies of the extreme right and left are gaining significant support.

1st Annual GPPF Forum 2012: Executive Summary

“Unfolding the Layers of the Crisis: the Nation-State, Europe, and the World”

1st Annual GPPF Chania Forum, 21-22 September 2012

Executive Summary

The third event organized by the Greek Public Policy Forum took place on September 21 and 22 at the Kiani Beach Resort in Chania, Greece. It was kindly sponsored by Decidendi Consultants, the Economic Chamber of Western Crete, and the Regional Development Fund of Crete. The Chania Forum tried to build upon the foundations laid by the two previous Fora at Oxford (June 2011) and Nottingham (March 2012). The Oxford Forum focused on Greece’s multifaceted crisis (economic, political, and social). The Nottingham Forum tried to examine the Greek crisis in its European context.

Συζήτηση για την κρίση στην Ελλάδα και τις προοπτικές εξόδου από αυτή: LSE 2012

Η Κρίση στην Ελλάδα κι οι Προοπτικές Ανάκαμψης

Συζήτηση για την κρίση στην Ελλάδα 

και τις προοπτικές εξόδου από αυτή

London School of Economics

11 Σεπτεμβρίου 2012

Στις 11 Σεπτεμβρίου 2011 to Ελληνικό Φόρουμ Δημόσιας Πολιτικής συνδιοργάνωσε στο London School of Economics συζήτηση με θέμα την ελληνική κρίση. Το πρώτο μέρος της συζήτησης είχε ως θέμα (α) ποιο θα πρέπει να είναι το μακροπρόθεσμο “όραμα” για την ελληνική οικονομία και κοινωνία, και (β) τι εμποδίζει την εξέλιξη προς αυτό και ποιοι τρόποι υπάρχουν για να αρθούν τα εμπόδια. Έγιναν παρεμβάσεις από ένα πάνελ τεσσάρων ομιλητών το οποίο συντόνισε ο Δημήτρης Βαγιανός, και στη συνέχεια έγιναν ερωτήσεις προς τους ομιλητές. Το δεύτερο μέρος της συζήτησης, το οποίο συντόνισε ο Νικήτας Κωνσταντινίδης, είχε ως θέμα το πώς οι Έλληνες του εξωτερικού θα μπορούσαν να συμβάλλουν στην επίλυση της κρίσης. H εκδήλωση έγινε υπό την αιγίδα του Ελληνικού Παρατηρητηρίου (Hellenic Observatory) του LSE.

Discussion about the Greek crisis and its possible resolutions: LSE 2012

Discussion about the Greek crisis and its possible resolutions

London School of Economics

11 September 2012

On 11 September 2012 the Greek Public Policy Forum co-organised a discussion at the London School of Economics about the Greek crisis. The first part of the discussion focused on (a) what should be the long-term “vision” for Greek economy and society, and (b) what obstacles are preventing the evolution towards that vision and what ways exist to circumvent them. There were four talks by a panel of speakers, which was chaired by Dimitri Vayanos, followed by a Q&A session. The second part of the discussion, chaired by Nikitas Konstantinidis, focused on how diaspora Greeks could help with the resolution of the crisis. The event took place under the auspices of the Hellenic Observatory at the LSE.