For the past six months, Greece stands financially on its own two feet. However, the situation for the citizens remains problematic. And Prime Minister Tsipras have to worry about re-election.
In Greece in the important construction sector has recovered yet from the economic crisis
If Jannis hear Papadopoulos swarms of politicians from the end of the crisis, then he can smile about it. Everything is going well? He asks for whom. For his work as an employee of a school cleaning company, he earns monthly about 560 Euro. He cleans every day about 18 class rooms. The Situation was also not to become under Prime Minister Tsipras is better. “It’s like all governments: they just want to win time.”
For 35 years he was in Germany, studied biology and worked. When his mother fell ill, he returned in 2010, back to Greece and was startled. Neighbors rummaged around in the trash to make ends meet. He had not imagined. Even today, nine years later, he sees from the end of the crisis. The Figures, which come from Athens, not to impress him. “The state owes to private citizens billions of Euros in tax refunds. If you say that you have Surpluses, I wonder, where are they.”
Recovery on paper
On paper, the unemployment rate has declined significantly – from 27.5 percent in 2013 to a current level of 18.6 percent – is still the highest in Europe. And youth unemployment fell from over 50 to 36.6 percent. About it, but hardly anyone does. Because The alleged growth in the lives of the people in Greece are barely noticeable. And the mistrust of the optimistic forecasts made in Athens in 2019, the year of the parliamentary elections, to a high Stan
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Greece and the crisis
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Nikos Varsakelis, a Professor of Economics at the University of Thessaloniki, can understand the pessimism of his countrymen: “The Greek people should not believe that the economy will now grow quickly. That will still take a lot of time. To settle here only in the new company.” But the passing is not. On The Contrary.
Especially in the area of production, i.e. what the economy is actually, there are still serious problems. Because enterprises had to close during the peak of the crisis, or have migrated, have left a gaping wound. And the workers have fled in droves out of the country.
Vaskelis titled the damage caused to the country by approximately 80 to 100 billion euros. Alone by the collapse in Greece of the major construction had gone according to his calculations, about 500,000 jobs will be lost.
Also for the economic stability of the country’s important industrial sector, from the traditionally strong food sector to the construction industry, is in decline. “A job here, creating about ten more in other industries. That’s why I think it is very important that the EU wants to increase the share of industry in the gross national product to 20 percent.” In Greece, there were just nine percent – too little to the devastating residue of the past few years to catch up.
Little relief for small businesses
“My husband and I had a great time in the gym – during the crisis. There were hardly any customers have had money for a membership. But the biggest Problem for most companies is the insurance. These are very high positions,” explains Marilena Papdaki from Thessaloniki.
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They had to close the operation. For you are not least the consequence of an unjust contribution system. “The charges are not dependent on the income, but after the years of contribution. It doesn’t matter whether you have a small Kiosk or a large supermarket, the cost of insurance will remain the same – even if you earn no money.”
Meanwhile, the historian works as a freelancer. In front of the Greek state it is a company. Also now the insurance is a burden on the purse of the two-fold mother. And although she is insured, she pays for the doctor, otherwise the wait times were too long. And then the taxes. With the advance payment for the next year and the VAT of 24%, the half of the income to the tax office. Along with the insurance your are from each earned Euro is about 30 cents.
Nikos Varsakelis knows this. However, these are not the only Problem. The high costs arise for businesses not only through taxes or insurance, but also in areas such as power and energy. And then there are immense expenditure for administration: “The complicated Greek bureaucracy generates very high costs for the company. It takes a lot of time and a lot of staff to deal with these issues.” According to a study of the Greek industry Association, these costs amounted to seven to eight percent of the gross national product.
Brain drain in high-growth industries
His biggest concern: the technology sector. Actually, this was the big growth industry. But here, too, professional, animals, Greece companies in this sector: “migrate abroad. And thus, high-skilled workers, which are left in the Wake of the brain drain from Greece can’t come back.” And the Greek companies that remain, suffer twice. For you young professional to gather working experience and then much better salaries in countries such as England or Germany curls.
Tsipras has promised to re-invent the Greek wheel
The sun but, above all, to structural problems, Nikos Varsakelis: “in My opinion, the Greek state would have to invent completely new. You would have to start from Zero and you would have to ask the question: What kind of state we want to be?”
It will be tight for Tsipras
Not only the acting Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had promised to re-invent the Greek wheel, but also all of its predecessors. Managed the no.
Of Tsipras, in the meantime, many people are disappointed. When he won 2015 election, he promised a fairer state. The hope is that a social-focused Prime Minister would uproot the corrupt and lazy institutions from all was great. Now it will be tight for the head of government. New elections are regularly scheduled for October. Whether the Prime Minister and his minority government lasts until then is questionable. And if the Greeks pronounce him then again your confidence all the more.