tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post6481481239089423054..comments2023-10-10T15:39:35.168+00:00Comments on Centre for European Reform: Can Greece be saved?Centre for European Reformhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815454225955436329noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-19874531148512465962011-03-04T15:29:36.950+00:002011-03-04T15:29:36.950+00:00I still do not understand why are we still in Euro...I still do not understand why are we still in Euro??? If we exit Euro we can benefit from several advantages like changing the currency ratio could result in cheap domestic produced products and services. Even the thought of taxing imported goods from EU could be a better idea, simply because the Germans French and other people forget that in the 80ies we sacrificed our own small industry so that Bosh, AEG, Miele could sell their fridges, stoves and other products without taxes. Even worst, we moved on and now Greece is the second buyer in Mercedes and BMW. My opinion is that in a country that cannot afford to pay its depth, such luxury imported goods should be overtaxed simply because the result in money export. <br /><br />In order to protect the lower income people, there should be established a maximum price for each service or product. This worked in the past (80s). In the same manner, there should be only one intermediate between the producer and the retailer. How ready is a government like those two we have in order to adopt such ideas?<br /><br />What about dismissal of civil servants? I do not understand why this is so difficult. Now days, the one third of civil servants work under the mean average private employee due to the fact that its post is secured for a life time. On the other hand in cities like Thessaloniki, the unemployed young people reached the 25%.... How 's going to change this PASOK? ND perhaps...?<br /><br />And what is that with closed professions? Why a pharmacist may pass his shop business as an inheritance to his child and a young graduate is not allowed to open cannot open a new store? Why someone cannot acquire a truck and run a logistic business? Who secures my profession (I am a mathematician/computer analyst)? Why I have to take such people making money on my back? But of course again, I don't see a government capable to brake such chains...<br /><br />One can tell me why in Greece we have so many company formats like the SA, LTD, INC, Ptn, NPSA, .... while i Cyprus there are only Ltd companies. Perhaps it is time to get rid of all those company formulations and use only two INC and Ltd. In the same idea, simplify the incorporation procedure by eliminating the bureaucracy and company incorporation cost. By the way, why should layers benefit from my company's incorporation, is something I still cannot understand. In other words, why I have to pay those stamps to help their private held security organization? Who pays for mine? <br /><br />Since no actually company pays a tax around 35% why we still keep it 35% and not downgrade it to 15% but with consequences to the one who is not paying? Why the good tax paying company must pay a-priori a 20% of the fore coming year taxes?<br /><br /><br />I could easily write more, but I believe the reader already had enough and knows what we have to change. The question still remains: Who is going to do it...<br /><br />Michael Mountrakis<br />Mathematician/AnalystAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-53420215602832679472011-01-21T19:43:47.855+00:002011-01-21T19:43:47.855+00:00I think that they have good intentions and ARE int...I think that they have good intentions and ARE interested in the reinvention task. I think any nation/Country would be devastated after getting such a "hard hit" and I truly hope Greece comes back hard and strong and actually takes action. They have slowly started with the pension cuts, etc and hopefully soon enough they'll be on the road to recovering their debts. It's sad for the citizens that the government has put them in such a bad situation, hopefully the Papandreou gov't will take actionHomeshttp://www.dinonunno.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-81400514013052773172011-01-21T12:35:47.001+00:002011-01-21T12:35:47.001+00:00Very interesting article that makes it apparent to...Very interesting article that makes it apparent to all those who lost focus on Greece that the worst is yet to come. Most of the key points in the article are spot on, although I think the piece forgot to attribute much of the high growth Greece enjoyed to massive inflows of EU structural support funds and others (cohesion, agriculture, etc). It was not due to sound, pro-investment Greek economic policy. Finally, although the article talks about the challenges Papandreou faces, it understimates the amount of "creative destruction" needed here in Greece. The gargantuan public sector needs to be substanitally dismantled, and the PASOK Government does't seem ready to accept that philosophy, since its political base derives from the public sector. So the sirens needed to be turned on, the problems are quite substantial, and the Greeks don't seem interested in completing the "reinvention" task required of them now. They do like to make projections and promises, however.Antaeushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09517177742307053964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-58416934787847557842011-01-20T15:05:04.395+00:002011-01-20T15:05:04.395+00:00I do not usually respond in such a manner, but I t...I do not usually respond in such a manner, but I think that this gentleman has articulated the case of Greece rather accurately. So, I do beg you spare 6 minutes to watch the video. <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E231f5i5u4k<br /><br />Speaking with "experts" on the economy and producing economic arguments for the further deterioration of the Greek society is only half the issue! One should also refer to social, political and military experts, in order to realise what has happened and what can be a sustainable solution. For example, asking the majority of people that are earning less than 700 euros a month to accept further salary cuts, will only aggravate the situation. Mass investment, leberalisation of proffessions and high-value industries may produce economic growth, but heavy government investment in armaments will also pluck this flower from its root. Should one want to see what the tax burden of each taxpayer is, he/she should investigate how much of our income goes to taxes already. Property owners are paying something like 20 different taxes, excluding the extraordinary requests for taxes on income and other goods and services. Out of the 1.60 euros pler litre of gas, 1 euro goes straight to the state. <br />In addittion, Germany, who was nagging about the way Greeks squander their money and do not work, should know about the 2 billion euros spent on German-built submarines. Instead German MPs argue publicly that we should sell several of our islands! Lest we forget the German tanks, other military equipment or the implication of the German colossus, SIEMENS, in bribes of Greek officials in order to get various contracts etc.. Without the lectures, France and the US are at fault all the same. <br /><br />Honestly, the hypocrisy knows no limits! What I only hope is that the Greeks learn their lesson and will not allow anyone, foreign or domestic, to plunder our coffers and our land anymore.<br /><br />P.S. I used to be an active pro-european; now I can only see the EU for what it truly is a “wonnabe”. The Constitution case, the way countries in distress are dealt are signs of a weak collective that cannot move into being a powerful union. <br /><br />Thank you for your time.<br />Vasilis GaganisUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16815110856895268251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-84763693294323642232011-01-20T12:38:39.967+00:002011-01-20T12:38:39.967+00:00I agree with all your points to a great extend - t...I agree with all your points to a great extend - the only negative reaction that I have to the goverment is that they'd have involve the wealthy people to these austerity plans - but it looks like nobody can touch them as all politicians are linked very mcuh to the "black money"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com