Agora
Why doesn't Tsipras just cut defence spending?
It seems the easiest option for a left-wing party coming to power and needing to save money: cut defence spending. However, despite being under intense pressure from Greece’s lenders to find a way to meet fiscal targets over the next few years, making some of the savings it needs from reducing expenditure on the military is not as easy as it first seems for SYRIZA.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Politics (171), Greece (260)
How Greek banks were left on the brink
Almost a year ago, Greek banks successfully raised 8.3 billion euros in capital increases, which were oversubscribed more than 1.5 times amid strong interest - primarily from international institutional investors.
Contributor: Manos Giakoumis
Categories: Economy (169), Greece (260)
Tsipras needs to sign a deal, but which one?
There have been plenty of sensible people advising Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that he has to do a deal with the country’s lenders but few of them until now suggested he should sign the proposal put on the table by the institutions. Therein lies the problem for the SYRIZA leader: The risk of not agreeing with creditors carries so many potential dangers it is hardly worth considering but the option of agreeing to the lenders’ plan also has numerous pitfalls.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (119), Politics (171), Economy (169), Greece (260)
Greek pensions laid bare
Greece’s pension system is taking centre stage again in the discussions with lenders. It should come as no surprise that even five years of programmes and repeated interventions have not managed to deal with the monster that was created after decades of mismanagement and a misled belief of entitlement.
Contributors: Manos Giakoumis, Yiannis Mouzakis
Categories: Europe (119), Economy (169), Greece (260)
Greece rides the ghost train
Greece’s negotiations with its lenders over the last few days have been more like a ride on the ghost train than a roller coaster, producing moments of sheer panic punctuated by brief spells that allow the palpitations to subside.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (119), Politics (171), Economy (169), Greece (260)