Globalization Case Study
Greek economic crisis
Introduction: In September 2009, Greek economic crisis exploded. Greek government announced that the country’s financial deficits and public debt to gross domestic product would be along about 12.7% and 113%, which are far from the provision of European Union: 3% financial deficit and less than 60% public debt to gross domestic product. Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, the three major credit-rating agencies, all reduced the credit-rating of Greece. The direct cause of this crisis is government’s massive deficits. However, besides Greece, there are other European countries also belonging to European Union; face a similar problem, such as Portugal, Ireland, Italy and
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At the same time, the vast majority of Greece’s private-sector creditors agreed to wipe off some of the debts, and also agreed to lower the present interest but this was not enough for Greece.
Consequence of Greece’s economy -Austerity measure Increase of taxes, decrease wages
What should Greece do in order to change its situation? Greece should implement budget cuts, higher taxes, improve labor market, lower pension reform.
What can European Union do in order to protect Eurozone
ST-GREEK : Similar to ST-stock (special treatment stock is a stock continues to have a loss for three years and has a risk to leave stock market)
For example, European Union can give Greece some special treatment such as: 5% of financial deficits and fewer than 90% of public debt to gross domestic product; change the name of Greece in EU to ST-Greek; Audit Greece’s expenditure twice a year.
European Union can also do same thing to Portugal, Italy, Ireland & Spain.
Hidden International Competition.
The speed development of capitalist economies after World War 2 resulted between control and anti-control of America and Europe. The frequent trade between European countries helped economic union. U.S and Soviet Union’s situation had threatened the development of European countries. It was impossible for
The Troika, made up of the International Monetary Fund, European Commissions and the European Central Bank have the most to lose in this debt crisis as they own 78% of Greek debt. With so much to lose we have seen European “bailout” agreements that mostly front the Greek government more money coupled with crippling austerity in an effort to “rebuild” the economy. Austerity discourages growth as it cuts the spending of the government who is by far the biggest spender in the economy. The effects of austerity can be devastating, but the true effects are often hidden beneath the messages we get from mainstream news sources. The stereotype of the Greek people as lazy and tax evading has desensitized the public and has made austerity seem like more of a sensible option. The media messages have made strict austerity measures seem justified and in effect have hegemozined the Greek people.
The article “How Germany Prevailed in the Greek Bailout” discusses Germany’s successes financially in comparison to most other (19 countries) in Europe. Although Germany has such success others see the country as a bully almost due to their militaristic background even though they have come to the aid of Greece and helped. Many other European countries are hesitant about Greece receiving aid considering the countries past failures financially. This is not the first time the country has been in debt and undoubtedly will not be the last. Since the economy fell in 2008 Greece’s unemployment rate is about 22% which is double the U.S. Due to an imbalance in European countries where some are creditors and others debtors it is difficult to fix this
This credit was available until 2008, when the U.S. housing market crashed, and the global economy tightened up everywhere (“The European Debt Crisis Visualized”). Greece suffered terribly from this because their economy relied on borrowing and deficit spending. Without being able to borrow that money, not only their economy, but all of Europe’s economy suffered.
Being unaware about issues on the other side of the world made me realize on intriguing economic debt crisis that is going on in countries that seem like they are holding together. Greece and the European was a great issue to discuss and view both sides before since I was unaware that there was a long going crisis going on in this side of the world. Greece can either get a so many bailouts repeatedly or they can fend for themselves to find how the country is able pay back the debt they owed the EU within the past years. In my opinion, I think that Greece should give the money from the EU to survive.
Ever since the end of 2009, Greece has been involved in a financial and economic crisis that has been record breaking and shattered world records in terms of its severity and worldwide effects. The Greek government, since the beginning of the crisis, has attempted to take several governmental measures to try and “stop the bleeding,” including economy policy changes, dramatic government spending and budget cuts and the implementation of new taxes for citizens. In addition to this, the government has tried to alter the perceptions of Greek government and economy by the rest of the world in an effort to appear both more liberal and more democratic. Greece has also been working to privatize many previous
With an area of roughly 131,957 square kilometers, approximately 50,949 square miles (“Greece Facts,” n.d.), Greece has been a predominant part of European history. This beautiful, ancient country is well-known for their vibrant history and enchanting Greek mythology. Today, however, Greece is more known for their deepening economic crisis. The tumultuous economic issues began around World War II as a result of the German occupation of Greece. Problems escalated following the occupation as the country fell into a civil war. "Communist and government troops tore the country apart."(Buchanan, 2015). In 1949, the government found themselves victorious but left with an economically broken Greece. Though the country is currently enduring hardships, there is still much hope for the future.
A country who’s economy was devastated by the monetary exports demanded of them by the second world war, Greece has shown great financial fluctuation and vulnerability within the last 80 years, resulting in one of the most disputed economic records in the history of the European Union. Dubbed the ‘Greek Economic Miracle’, Greece showed great resilience throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, with credit to their superior food trade and shipping industry, continuing to produce high levels of economic growth in contrast to others that had also been affected by the war. With the Treaty of Accession (1979) entering into force on 1st January 1981, Greek’s commitment to the European Communities (European Union) proved pivotal regarding it’s controversial qualification into the Eurozone in 2000. Owing to this, in an attempt to recover the unstable foundations of its economy, Greece has since been subject to various regulations and measures of austerity, leaving what was once a highly commended country both financially and socially, in a deplorable state of desperation.
The sovereign debt crisis in Greece has attained several controversial bailouts which has caused a huge fuss to the Greek citizens and the tension of political instability in negotiation in the Eurozone. This literature review tends to answer 3 main questions as follows: (1) the causes of sovereign debt crisis in Greece, (2) the implication of the crisis currently and (3) the ways of mitigating the
The roots of Greece’s economic problems extend deep down into the recesses of history. After the government dropped the drachma for the euro in 2001, the economy started to grow by an average of 4% annually, almost twice the European Union average. Interest rates were low, unemployment was dropping, and trade was at an all-time high. However, these promising indicators masked horrible fiscal governance, growing government debt and declining current account balances. Greece was banking on the rapid economic growth to build upwards on highly unstable foundations. In 2008, the inevitable happened – the Greek debt crisis.
As of 2014, Greece -along with other nations of the Eurozone- is facing grave sovereign debt issues, which have helped worsen the economic and political aspects of the nation. Some members, like the case of Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the aforementioned Hellenic nation, have unendurable levels of public debt, and have been receiving aid packages from the European Union and International Monetary Fund to avoid default. However, despite these financial aids, the nation still presents economic complications that threaten to affect the country 's payments to its international commitment. Similarly, such loans and other measures taken in order to control the crisis (budget and job cuts, among others, which will be later explained) have provoked violent riots and strikes, leaving the nation in a constant state of unrest.
In 1999, ten European nations joined together to create an economic and monetary union known as the Eurozone. Countries, such as Germany, have thrived with the euro but nations, like Greece, have deteriorated since its adoption of the euro in 2001. The Eurozone was created in 1999 and currently consists of eighteen European nations united under the European Central Bank and all use the euro. The Eurozone has a one point six percent inflation rate and an eleven point six percent unemployment rate in 2014. Greece joined the Eurozone in 2001 and was the poorest European Union member at the time with a two point six percent inflation rate3 (James, 2000). Greece had a long economic history before joining the Eurozone. The economy flourished from 1960 to 1970 with low inflation and modernization and industrialization occurring. The market crash in the late 1970’s led Greece into a state of recession that the nation is still struggling with. Military failures, the PASOK party and the introduction of the euro have further tarnished Greece’s economic stability. The nation struggles with lack of competitiveness, high deficit, and inflation. Greece has many options like bailouts, rescue packages, and PPP to help dig it out of this recession. The best option is to abandon the Eurozone and go back to the drachma. Greece’s inflation and deficit are increasing more and more and loans and bailouts have not worked in the past. Leaving the Eurozone will allow Greece to restructure and rebuild
The economic crisis of 2008 in New York had ripple effects around the world, causing deep structural problems within the European Union to crumble the economies of several countries. These countries, known as the PIGS, are made up of Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain, and collectively hold most of the sovereign debt problems of the European Union. After fast growth early in the decade, these countries were spending too much money and not securing their own banking sectors with enough capital. Soon, the debt the PIGS owed caused massive problems throughout the EU, and Germany and France had to come to the rescue of these poorly managed countries. (Greek Crisis Timeline, 1) Now, in 2012, the issue has yet to be fully resolved. Greece is still sinking, and a massive bailout for Greece's banks is required. The debate is whether Germany should continue bailing out Greece and collecting interest on its loans, or whether Greece should try to separate itself from the broader European Union, in an attempt to manage its own finances and declare bankruptcy in order to save itself from crippling interest payments. Each path offers an escape from the present situation that Greece finds itself in, but only the path of bailout results in a harmonious European Union. If Greece fragments off from the EU, then the entire union is weakened as a result. I believe that Greece should accept the terms of the bailout that Germany has provided, and should undergo several years
Although a commonly accepted view is that the hidden budget deficit in Greece is the beginning of the European sovereign debt crisis, the real causes of this economic crisis can be various. To reveal the whole event, a comprehensive review of the background is
The government of Greece set a series of plans for this problem and finally choose one of cutting the deficit. But the Bond markets doubt about the plan, therefore, Fitch and S&P, cut Greece’ grade from A- to BBB+.
There are many causes for the debt crisis to start. Before world war II Europe had very strict trade barriers between countries examples being currency exchange fees and trade tariffs. Then World War II happened and was so detrimental to Europe they couldn’t continue to have such strict trade barriers. The barriers were then slowly removed with the first barrier removal being steel and coal. This worked well enough that it caused twenty-seven countries to sign the Maastricht Treaty thus forming the European Union (UN). This made trading throughout all Europe easier which caused more trade to occur within Europe.