Yiannis Mouzakis via Macropolis | | Understandably, when the International Monetary Fund published its Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) last week, its gloomy projections regarding the unsustainability of Greece’s debt drew all the attention. This meant that many overlooked the fact that the Fund was even gloomier about the Greek economy’s long-term growth prospects.
Yiannis Mouzakis via Macropolis | Following an 11-hour Eurogroup that brought back memories of other classic encounters between Greece and its lenders, an agreement was reached to disburse 10.3 billion euros from the programme’s financing in two tranches – next month and in September – as the much-contested debt issue was put on the table.
In Sober Look, Marcello Minenna gives us a clue about a possible new breach in the euro’s structure. A few years ago (2011-2012), when the euro was going through its worst time, one of the consequences was that the central banks in the peripheral countries increased their debt position with TARGET2.
Nick Malkoutzis via Macropolis | As symbols go, the imaginary pig’s head in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies requires little explanation. Its meaning is summed up in one line of the unnerving classic. “Fancy thinking the beast was something you could hunt and kill!” says the fly-infested head. “You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?”
Jens Bastian via Macropolis | Portugal and Greece are geographically located at the opposite ends of the eurozone’s southern periphery. In the course of the past five years, both countries had to confront various political calamities and economic crises, culminating in having to seek financial assistance from international official creditors.
PARIS | July 9, 2015 | By Francesco Saraceno | I have mixed feelings about the Oxi victory in Greece. The choice was between two evils: slow death by more of the same (the Troika plan), or a roller-coaster ride that has a high chance of ending catastrophically for Greece and for the EMU. I would have voted no, were I Greek, but not joyfully.
MADRID | July 7, 2015 | By JP Marín Arrese | Taking a shot at sorting out some kind of Grexit to solve the current mess seems unavoidable. Despite the efforts both parties have said they are ready to make to try to keep Greece on board, there is little chance of reaching an agreement in time. Temporary suspension from the eurozone might turn out to be the only plausible answer.
MADRID | June 24, 2015 | J. P. Marín Arrese | European leaders have probably concluded that expelling Greece from the common euro house might rock its foundations. The high price of supporting a failing partner also helps to fuel a change in sentiment towards the stubborn and rebellious Tsipras government, not to mention mounting pressures from the US administration and the FED.
LONDON | June 24, 2015 | BARCLAYS | Although the news from Greece’s programme negotiations was mildly positive, we remain cautious on the eventual outcome as the situation remains very tense, particularly with respect to the banking sector.
MADRID | June 21, 2015 | By JP Marín Arrese | Bertrand Russell coined this famous phrase when the cold war nuclear escalation threatened the survival of the human race. A useful tip for intractable confrontations where sanguine sentiments lead conflicting sides to prefer collective ruin rather than reaching a compromise. The Greek imbroglio is a good example.