The percentage of closed shops in downtown Athens grew by half percentage point to 28 pct in the first months of 2017, reversing a declining trend which prevailed in the second half of 2016 and returned to September 2015 levels, Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) said.
Vasilis Korkidis, president of ESEE, in comments made to Austrian TV, said the percentage of closed shops was almost unchanged in central shopping areas of Athens, it improved in regions of medium and high income and deteriorated in areas of low incomes.
More specifically, in the commercial triangle of the Athens center, the percentage of closed shops was 23 pct, up from 21 pct in 2016, followed by the Kolonaki area (unchanged at 25 pct), followed by the Exarhia area (35 pct) and central roads such as Stadiou, Panepistimiou and Academias (33 pct) which showed a slight improvement.
PS I was talking with an expat friend from France the other day about the atmosphere in downtown Athens and the burdens on freelancers and self-employed. We both agreed on this: that with all these closed shops on main avenues downtown Athens occasionally resembles an abandoned city. And that the tax and social contribution burdens on freelancers and self-employed make entrepreneurship not worthy.
The trend to open coffee shops and souvlaki grills continue without a break.
What do you expect with the current taxes??? Not 1 business can survive this….
The EU does not care about small businesses, nor people in need. It has neither the will nor the integrity to care that closing family businesses is devastating to the ordinary citizen. The EU favours large, rich companies. For example, why is Lidl making profits at the cost of Greek businesses?
This has been its policy all the time, across the continent, forcing small farms, shops, factories out of business. Paying farmers a subsidy instead of allowing them to work their land. Buying only perfectly shaped fruits and vegetables, preventing the sale of good food and creating disgraceful waste of food while ignoring poverty and the many who are hungry and suffering.
It’s frankly a wonder that any shops at all are still surviving in the current tax regime. More than one small business owning friend has said to me that if they were to comply with all the taxes and regulations to the letter, that they would be running at a loss. It’s an impossible situation, and the Greek government, at the behest of the EU, want to make it even worse.