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The causes of the greek debt problem

  • George S. Atsalakis*
  • , Emilios Galariotis
  • , Constantin Zopounidis
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

In Greece, special interest groups were the main drivers of pressure to increase public spending and, by extension, to increase public debt to cover the expenditure by blocking any effort of prudent governance. They were so greedy, that when the funds of public vaults were not sufficient to meet their expectations, they exerted pressures or even extorted the state to engage in public borrowing so as to accrue even greater funds, disregarding the short-and long-term cost of such actions for the state and society. As a result, a vicious circle led to Greek public over-indebtedness in order to support public overspending. It is indicative that the Greek state's primary expenditure rate increased between 2000 and 2009 by 135%. In other words, the citizens were obliged to pay taxes that would support two states: the expenses' level the state had until 2000 and the costs of one more state after 2000-2009.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationResearch Anthology on Macroeconomics and the Achievement of Global Stability
PublisherIGI Global
Pages1880-1896
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9781668474617
ISBN (Print)9781668474600
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Aug 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by IGI Global. All rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Economics, Econometrics and Finance
  • General Business, Management and Accounting
  • General Social Sciences

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