Greece: Much Progress, but Action Needed to Address Crisis Legacies, Boost Inclusive Growth

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 31.07.18
Publication Date 31/07/2018
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its annual report on the state of the Greek economy (the 2018 Article IV Consultation with Greece) on the 31 July 2018.

It said that Greece had successfully eliminated its extraordinarily high fiscal and current account deficits, and restored growth. It must now take action to address crisis legacies and boost inclusive growth.

Further information

Following a deep and protracted contraction, growth had finally returned to Greece. The large macroeconomic stabilisation effort, structural reforms, and a better external environment contributed to an increase in real GDP of 1.4% in 2017, helped also by substantial support from European partners, which secured medium-term sustainability and restored market access. However, stock legacy issues persisted, as unemployment remained high and public and private balance sheets remain impaired.

The recovery was projected to strengthen in the near-term, with growth expected to reach 2% in 2018 and 2.4% in 2019, and with unemployment declining as the output gap closed. However, external and domestic risks were tilted to the downside, including from slower trading partner growth, tighter global financial conditions, regional instability, the domestic political calendar, and risks of reform fatigue. Moreover, in the long term, population aging was expected to weigh down on potential growth, increasing the need to foster productivity.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2018/07/30/na07302018
Related Links
IMF: Greece and the IMF http://www.imf.org/en/Countries/GRC
The New York Times, 31.07.18: Europe Says Greece Is a Comeback Story. The I.M.F. Isn’t Convinced. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/31/business/greece-imf-bailout.html
ESO: Key source: The Greek Debt Crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-greek-debt-crisis-key-sources/
European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: In-Depth Analysis, June 2018: Greece’s financial assistance programme - June 2018 http://www.europeansources.info/record/greeces-financial-assistance-programme-june-2018/
ESO: In Focus, January-March 2018: Eurogroup agreement on third review of Greece's economic adjustment programme http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurogroup-agreement-on-third-review-of-greeces-economic-adjustment-programme/
LSE European Institute: EuroppBlog, 04.04.18: Greece’s clean exit: Politics vs economics (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/greeces-clean-exit-politics-vs-economics/
Chatham House: Expert Comment, 16.08.18: Greek Bailout: IMF and Europeans Diverge on Lessons Learnt https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/greek-bailout-imf-and-europeans-diverge-lessons-learnt
Social Europe, 19.09.18: Lessons From The Greek Tragedy Unlearnt https://www.socialeurope.eu/lessons-from-the-greek-tragedy-unlearnt
openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 20.08.18: Greece, August 2018: a mid-term report from a Syriza MP https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/costas-douzinas/greece-august-2018-mid-term-report-from-syriza-mp

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