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Agora

In ancient Athens, the agora was the central location where citizens gathered to hear news, discuss and, later, trade. The agora was the heart of the city’s political, cultural and spiritual life and it gave birth to the Greek word for speaking in public: ἀγορεύω (agorevo). It is this spirit we hope to channel in this section of the website.

Here, the Agora is a public forum for discussing events that are unfolding in Greece and beyond. Contributors to Macropolis, as well as guest posters, share their views on political, economic and other matters, while also offering readers the opportunity to express their opinions. As always, those who fail to respect the sanctity of this forum will not be allowed to share in its benefits.

Posts in Society

Results 21 to 25 out of 34.

Photo by Harry van Versendaal No victory, just plenty of misery

It has become evident over the last few weeks that the eurozone’s pro-austerity camp is trying to defend its record, either through the ground it is afforded by influential media or through commentators that end up resembling cheerleaders rather than sober judges of the events that have unfolded in the single currency area.

Contributor: Yiannis Mouzakis

4 Comment(s)

Categories: Europe (119), Politics (171), Economy (169), Society (34), Greece (260)

Photo by Myrto Papadopoulos [www.myrtopapadopoulos.com] The Greek crisis we don’t see

The economic impact of the Greek crisis has been well publicised. A recession that began in 2008 has led to GDP contracting by a quarter, while unemployment has risen above 27 percent. Greece’s fiscal consolidation effort has also received much attention. A general government deficit of 15.6 percent in 2009 was transformed into a small surplus in 2013 – one of the sharpest adjustments the world has ever seen.

Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis

1 Comment(s)

Categories: Economy (169), Society (34), Greece (260)

Photo by MacroPolis The wrong prescription

As is customary by now the troika’s return to Athens has been accompanied by a flurry of speculation about how targets will be met. This time the focus is on the structural rather than fiscal side. This simply means replacing the back and forth between Greece and its lenders over excruciating details of how money will be saved with a similar tug of war over the minutiae of reforms.

Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis

2 Comment(s)

Categories: Economy (169), Society (34), Greece (260)

Photo by Can Esenbel [http://www.mundanepleasure.com/] Buying time: The delayed crisis of democratic capitalism - a review

By now books about the financial crisis of 2008/09 and the sovereign debt crisis in the euro area since 2010 could fill entire libraries across the globe. The crisis narrative continues to carry such resonance in publishing houses, ranging from eye witness accounts, academic analysis, textbook guidance and even finding its way into novels.

Contributor: Jens Bastian

1 Comment(s)

Categories: Europe (119), Politics (171), Economy (169), Society (34), Greece (260)

Results 21 to 25 out of 34.