November 17, 2011
Economy
Yesterday I visited one of the most known cosmetics multi-stores in Greece, a branch located in one of the middle class suburbs of Athens. It was about 2 pm. I was very much surprised to see we were no more than 5-6 customers there. I did my shopping, strictly staying with …
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October 23, 2011
Economy
Greece is shocked as European leaders accepted Germany’s proposal for a big haircut of 50-60% of the Greek bonds, much bigger than the 21% that was agreed on July 21. The banks have still problems with it , however the final decision is to be taken on Wednesday – time enough for negotiations. …
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October 13, 2011
Economy
The boldness of the Greek state seems to know no limits. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos announced that the solidarity tax, i.e. the additional tax to already taxed incomes, will be collected via the monthly salaries and pensions before the taxpayer gets even 1 euro in his pockets! According to FinMin, …
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October 12, 2011
Economy
Greeks suffer under the harsh austerity and Greece’s Budget Deficit is growing… Huge ‘black’ holes appeared in the period Jan-Sept 2011 and Athens seems unable to meet its fiscal targets. Direct and indirect taxes pour into the barrel without bottom and the state has to collect 5,5 billion EUR to meet …
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October 10, 2011
Economy
Investments here, investments there, the retail market is frozen and big chains do their arrangements with firing personnel or closing down. Big German chain of stores with consumers electronics Media Markt Saturn announced the closure of three big stores in Athens and Thessaloniki on Monday afternoon. Media Markt issued a statement after Greek …
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September 26, 2011
Politics
Tomorrow, Tuesday, there is another crucial ( the No 1,453 ?) voting that will take place in the Greek Parliament. The voting for the odious Property Levy that triggered outrage in the society. And not only. Quite a number of ruling party PASOK had to feel the strong pressure of …
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September 24, 2011
Economy
The buildings of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of Interior, of Justice and the building of the Greek Police Headquarters are the first assets of Athens that will be soon on the “Urgent – Greece for Sale”list. According to newspaper Imerisia, the buildings will be sold with the method of Sale and …
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September 24, 2011
Economy
I have been in a dilemma for quite some time now, as to whether I should post about some prominent or totally unknown clowns around Europe who misuse Greece’s financial situation to gain their 15 seconds of fame. Just recently I read about a German tax consultant who tried to cross …
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September 17, 2011
Economy
The developments in Greece are dramatic and the tension has been extremely high in the last hours, after Prime Minister George Papandreou decided to cancelhis visit to USA and this in the middle of the road. He was flying Athens-Washington via London and he was in the British capital when he spoke …
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July 20, 2011
Society
A small group of Greeks held a protest outside the German consulate in Thessaloniki, and even covered the symbol of the Federal Republic with a Swastika. First the 30-40 people smeared the cobblestones in front of the Consulate with Nazi symbols, then they stuck on the Federal Eagle a piece of paper with …
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July 20, 2011
Economy
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou flies for Brussels today to have a series of meetings, which are covered in full secrecy for fear of any leakage of solution scenarios. “We go to the Summit with specific positions, but without specific goals”, a senior government official said, explaining that all scenarios …
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July 19, 2011
Economy
Despite the generous offers reaching up to 70%, the first results for the Summer Sales are disappointed. Consumers’ favorite seem to be rather the window shopping than the real deals. According to estimations of the Greek Association of Retail Sales, chain stores are in turnover decline of 10%-15%, while small stores …
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July 17, 2011
Politics
That was an aspect I admit I didn’t take into consideration when I was writing about Hillary Clinton’s visit in Athens and the agenda of the talks. Greece’s prime Minister George Papandreou and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked about …decoration! Precicely the talked about the office decoration of Greece’s PM. …
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July 17, 2011
Politics, Turkey-GR
Blocking traffic on the main streets? Swimming at Glyfada’s VIP resort? Keeping busy policemen and journalists over a hot weekend? Talking about economy? Crying together with the Greeks about the miserable debt situation of the two countries? She does all these and much more. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton …
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June 20, 2011
Economy, Editor
…but it’s Chinese to me! Then for us, Greeks, the idiom “It’s all Greek to me” makes really no sense. However, whether in Chinese or in Greek, the Greek crisis makes no more sense to anybody. The Eurogroup in Luxembroug postponed its decision to release the 5th tranche of 12 billion …
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June 14, 2011
Economy, Society
Is the Euro too expensive for you? You don’t trust the return of the Drachma? A currency solution is under way and thus one independent from international markets and national mints. The so-called “Exarchia-Lira”! Exarchia is a district of Athens, known to enjoy an ‘autonomous’ status, with intellectuals, lefts and anarchists. According to …
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June 10, 2011
Economy
I love to receive interesting posts by KTG-readers. Different ideas and opinions enrich a blog anyway. An article on Greek economy and rescue efforts, written in a way that everybody can understand, is a must now a days for those who want to know the What and Why and Why Not as …
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June 10, 2011
Economy
Greek cabinet approved on Thursday a package of austerity measures, the so called ‘II. Memorandum of Understanding” or else “Budget Plan 2011-2015” or else “Mid-Term Stability program” dictated by the IMF/EU/ECB Troika. Call it whatever you want, the package contains measures that will kill small and medium enterprises, drive mad families, starve …
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June 9, 2011
Economy
Is the “Euro-Drachma” a solution for the Greek crisis? No, not, a coin featuring Euro on one side and Drachma on the other side, as an internet user posted in a Greek economic forum. But the Euro-Drachma would be the currency to be used for the internal trade within Greece, …
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June 8, 2011
Economy, Uncategorized
Each and every month unemployment in Greece hits new records, with the latest report of the Greek Statistics Authority to state that the jobless rate for March climber at 16,2% ! A month earlier, February 2011, the jobless rate was at 15.9% , while a year earlier (Marc 2010) the rate was …
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