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THEODORE PELAGIDIS Professor of Economics,University of Piraeus and Senior Fellow, LSE, HO Greece’s sudden faltering economy: Falling competitiveness and institutional weakness in a high GDP growth rate context (1995-2008) 4 factors led to strong growth during 1995-08 • Greece’s economy accession to the eurozone together with the creation of competitive credit and capital markets as well as the macroeconomic stability that followed the EMU accession. • The shipping and tourism industry boom (+ the real estate to a lesser extent) • the improvement resulting from of productivity enhancing infrastructure especially in the Athens, ‘Olympic Games’, greater area that were financed largely by the EU structural funds but also by private sector partnerships. • the satisfactory deregulation of the telecommunications industry and some other infrastructure Figure 1. Strong growth: Greece clearly outperformed since 1995-96 the benchmark euro zone economy. Is this about to change? 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% 2009 2007 2005 2003 2001 1999 1997 1995 1993 1991 1989 1987 1985 1983 1981 1979 1977 1975 1973 1971 1969 1967 1965 1963 1961 Greece. Real gdp % YoY Euro zone. Real gdp % YoY.AMECO. Figure 2. The main drivers of the higher performance. Demand injections. Greece. Data sources: Bank of Greece, Ministry of Finance, European Commission, EUROSTAT. 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 Change in net credit issued by the private banking sector to enterprises and housholds. Change in the stock of financing over the year as a percentage of GDP. Net inflows from the E.U. as a % of year end GDP. Change in General Government debt as a % of GDP. Percentage points. * In 1993 all guarantees issued by the Government that had been claimed were added to the public debt. Figure 3a Interbank rates as a reflection of achieving macro stability Interbank rates 20 18 16 14 12 % 10 8 6 4 2 0 1-10 10 7 4 1-09 10 7 4 1-08 10 7 4 1-07 10 7 4 1-06 10 7 4 1-05 10 7 4 1-04 10 7 4 1-03 10 7 4 1-02 10 7 4 1-01 10 7 4 1-00 10 7 4 1-99 10 7 4 1-98 Euribor(Έως 1-1-01 Athibor) 1m o Euribor 6m o (Έως 1-1-01 Athibor) Euribor 12m o (Έως 1-1-01 Athibor) Euribor 12 m o Figure 3b. Government bond yields and the possible reversal of the trend towards macro stability for Greece. 200% 190% 180% 170% 160% 150% 140% 130% 120% 110% 100% 90% 9 8,5 8 7,5 7 6,5 6 5,5 5 4,5 4 3,5 3 2,5 2 1-10 7 1-09 7 1-08 7 1-07 7 1-06 7 1-05 7 1-04 7 1-03 7 1-02 7 1-01 7 1-00 7 1-99 Yield of Greek government 10y bond as % of German comparable bond. Yield of Greek government 10y bond . %. Data BoG. Data for 12month bond. 10 y German Government Bond Yield (Zinsstrukturkurve (Svensson-Methode) / Boersennotierte Bundeswertpapiere / 10,0 Jahr(e) RLZ / Monatsendstand. WZ9826. Bundesbank.) Figure 4 Expansion of household credit and private consumption (GDP component) as a driver of private consumption and the fading of this effect. 7 60 6 50 5 40 4 3 30 2 20 1 10 0 0 -1 -2 -10 12-09 Credit to households-housing. % YoY change. BoG. Credit to households-consumer credit after write-offs. % YoY change. BoG. Credit to households-consumer credit. % YoY change. BoG. 6 12-08 6 12-07 6 12-06 6 12-05 6 12-04 6 12-03 6 12-02 6 12-01 6 12-00 6 12-99 6 12-98 % YoY change private consumption. Greece. ESYE. Y2000 prices. Figure 5. Private consumption and investment change. Investment often complemented consumption growth, especially in the run up to the 2004 Olympic games. 40 7 6 30 5 4 20 3 2 10 1 0 0 -10 -1 -2 -20 % YoY change investment. Greece. ESYE. Y2000 prices. 12-09 6 12-08 6 12-07 6 12-06 6 12-05 6 12-04 6 12-03 6 12-02 6 12-01 6 12-00 6 12-99 6 12-98 % YoY change private consumption. Greece. ESYE. Y2000 prices. Figure 6. Investment as % of GDP. The rapid increase of new investment (figure 6) also demonstrates the impact of the infrastructure investment that was largely financed by the EU structural funds but also private sector financing. 30% 30% 25% 19,3% 22,5% 22,5% 21,6% 22,6% 23,7% 22,5% 21,6% 21,6% 19,1% 17,9% 17,7% 16,9% 20% 20,1% 25% 20% Investment/GDP. Current prices, euro-zone 13. Investment/GDP. Current prices, Greece. Eurostat. 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 10% 1997 10% 1996 15% 1995 15% Figure 7 The poor performance regarding competitiveness, is documented by: - The persistent deficit of the current account in doubledigit numbers (12-14% of GDP), -The persisting inflation differential with the euro zone (around 1.5-2.0% during 2008), which is observed for both goods and services. -The unattractiveness of Greece to net foreign direct investments that are practically zero -The consistent ranking of Greece by all competitiveness, business environment, administrative cost and governance surveys at a rank that is disproportionally low when compared to its per capita GDP and the productivity that is measures as GDP per worker. Corruption matches well with this. Fig. 8, 9. An expository comparison with Ireland, where the inflation of goods is much lower than the inflation of services and that, thus, emerges as a textbook Balassa-Samuelson case is most revealing I n f l a t i o n , H IC P , g o o d s . E U R O S T A T . In f l a t i o n , H I C P , s e r v i c e s . E U R O S T A T . 5 % 5 % 4 % 4 % 3 % 1 ,2 % 0 ,6 % 1 ,9 % 2 % 1 % 1 ,3 % 1 ,2 % 1 ,2 % 0 ,6 % 0 ,7 % 1 ,4 % w rt E A -1 3 8% 7% 7% 6% 6% 5% 4, 4 % 5% 4% 2 ,5 % 0 ,2 % 3% 0 ,9 % 2% 0 ,8 % 2 ,5 % 2 ,3 % 0 ,9 % 1 ,7 % 3% 0 ,6 % 1 ,8 % 2 ,3 % -0, 7 % -0 , 8 % -0 , 6 % -1 % 1, 0 % 2 , 3% 0,9% 1, 8 % 2,3% 2, 0 % 2% 1% 3, 2 % 2 , 5% 1 , 6% 1,5% 2000 2 ,1 % 4,3% 1999 1 ,8 % 3 , 6% 3 , 4% 4% 2 , 6% 2, 6 % 0% 6% 5% 5% 4% 4% 2% 2,3% 2 ,1% 2 ,3 % 1, 3 % 1 ,2 % 2,2% 1,3% 1,1% 1 ,1 % 2% 1,6% 1 ,5 % 3, 2 % 2 , 6% 2 ,6 % 2,3% 2,0% 2006 2 ,5 % 2000 1% 1 , 6% 1 ,4 % 2005 1,8% 3% 2004 1,8% 1 ,2 % 2003 1, 7 % 1 ,3% 0,7% 1999 0 ,5 % 0 ,9 % 2 ,5 % 2006 7% 6% 1,2% 2005 7% 1, 9 % 2004 8% 1,2% Ir e la n d H I C P . S e r v ic e s . E uros t a t . H IC P . G o o d s . E u ro s t a t . 0 ,6 % 2003 E ur o a re a Ir e l a n d 8% 3% 2002 2001 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 E u ro are a 0% -1 % E u ro are a 2002 2001 2006 G re e c e 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 E u ro are a G re ec e 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 o f G re e c e H I C P S e r v i c e s . E u r o s ta t. H IC P G o o d s . E u ro st at . 0% 2002 2001 2000 1999 I n f la t io n d i f f e r e n c e E u ro z o n e 1 3 w rt E A -1 3 8% 1% 1 ,2 % 1 ,1 % 0 % 2007 o f G re e c e 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 I n f l a t io n d if f e r e n c e E u ro z o n e 1 3 0% 1 ,3 % 1 ,1 % 1 % 0 % 1% 1 ,2 % 2 ,2 % 2 % 0 ,5 % 1 ,6 % 1 ,4 % 3 % Figure 10. Excessive deficit of the goods trade balance, as a % of GDP S e rv ic e s b a la n c e a s % of G D P. E u r o s t a t. 10% 8% 8% 6% 5% 4% 5% 7% 6% 6% 8% 7% 6% 6% 0% -5 % -4 % -5 % -6 % -7 % -7 % -8 % -1 0 % -7 % -8 % -8 % -1 1 % -1 1 % -1 3 % -1 5 % 2006 2005 2004 2003 G o o d s b a la n c e a s % 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 I r e la n d G ree c e o f G D P . E u r o s ta t . 3 5% 26% 2 5% 2 0% 19 % 18% 28 % 26 % 2 4% 23% 2 0% 2 2% 18% 15% 1 5% 5% -5% -1 1 % -1 4 % -15 % -1 5% -1 6 % -1 5 % -1 6 % 2006 -1 7 % 2005 -1 4 % 2004 -1 3 % 2003 -1 2% 2002 -12 % 2001 -1 5% -2 5% 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 Ir e l a n d G re ec e Figure 11. This persistent deterioration of the goods balance has been financed, besides from the surplus of the services account (figure 4), through foreign inflows in both Greek government bonds as well as into the stocks of Greece companies, at least until the present financial turmoil made its appearance 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% -15% -20% External balance - Services. % GDP. EUROSTAT, Annual National Accounts. 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 Greece. External balance - Goods FIGURE 12 Direct Investment (FDI Inward). FDI inward flows for Greece as a percentage of GDP are very low for almost all years something that is in line with the link between the attractiveness of the business environment and FDI 2.0% 1.8% Percentage of GDP 1.6% 1.4% 1.2% 1.0% 0.8% 0.6% 0.4% 0.2% 0.0% 2007 2005 2003 2001 1999 1997 1995 1993 1991 1989 1987 1985 1983 1981 Figure 13 Indices of competitiveness D o ing B us in es s in 2 01 0 Ran k 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 16 18 22 25 28 30 31 44 48 55 62 64 73 74 78 82 10 7 10 8 10 9 11 0 11 1 18 1 18 2 18 3 W E F , G lob al C o m e p t iti v e n e s s In d e x 20 09 -2 01 0 R an k S ing ap o re 1 S w i tz e r la n d N e w Z e a la n d 2 U n i te d S ta t e s H on g K on g, C hina 3 S ing ap o re U n i te d S ta t e s 4 S w e d en U n i te d K in g d o m 5 D e n m a rk D en m a rk 6 F i n la n d Ire l a n d 7 G e rm a ny C an ad a 8 J a pa n A u s tr a l i a 9 C an a da N o rw a y 1 0 N e t h e r la n d s … … F i n la n d 1 3 U n i te d K in g d o m S w e d en 1 4 N orw ay B e lg iu m 1 6 F ra n c e G e rm a ny 1 7 A u s tr i a A u s tr ia 1 8 B e lg iu m N e t h e r la n d s 2 1 L ux e m b ou rg F ra n c e 2 5 Ir e l a n d B u lg a r i a 3 1 C ze c h R e p u b l ic P o rtu g a l 3 3 S p ain R o m a n ia 3 4 C yp r u s S p ain 4 3 P o r tu g a l L u x e m b o u rg 4 6 P o la n d T urk e y 4 8 It a l y C ze c h R e p u b l ic 5 8 H un g ary It a l y 6 1 T u rk e y A lba nia 6 4 R o m a n ia … … E th io p ia 6 9 C olo m bia L eb an o n 7 0 E g yp t G r e ec e 7 1 G r e ec e G u a te m a l a 7 2 C r o a ti a S e yc h e l l e s 7 3 M o ro c c o … … G u ine a-B is s a u 13 1 C ha d C on go , D e m . R e p. 13 2 Z im b ab w e C e n tra l A fri c a n R e p u b l ic 13 3 B u run di T I , C o rr u p ti o n P e r c e p t io n s In d e x 2 0 0 8 Ra n k U N , Κα τ ά κ ε φα λ ή Α Ε Π σ ε $, 2 00 7 R an k 1 1 1 4 5 5 7 7 9 9 11 12 14 14 16 16 18 18 18 23 26 28 31 32 45 47 55 55 57 58 58 1 78 1 78 1 80 D e nm a rk N e w Z e a la n d S w ed en S ing a po re F in la n d S w it ze r la n d I c elan d N e th e r l a n d s A u s tr a li a C a na da … L u x e m b o u rg A u s tr i a G erm a n y N o rw a y I relan d U n ite d K in g d o m B e lg i u m J a p an USA F ran c e S lov e nia S p ain C y pru s P o rtu g a l C z e c h R e p u b l ic H u ng ary … I ta ly S e yc h e ll e s G re e c e L it h u a n i a P o la n d … I raq M y an m a r S o m a li a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 L i e c h te n s te i n Lu x em bo urg B e rm u d a N o rw a y Q a ta r Ic e la n d Ir e la n d D e nm ark C a ym a n Is l a n d s S w i tz e r l a n d … 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 26 30 31 32 34 S w e de n N e th e r l a n d s F inlan d A u s tra l ia U n it e d K i n g d o m U n it e d S ta te s A u s tri a B elgium C a na d a G e rm an y F ra n c e S in g a p o r e Ita ly J ap an S p a in … T u rk s a n d C a ic o s H o ng K o ng G r ee ce C y p ru s B ah rain … Z im ba b w e C on go B u ru n d i 37 38 39 40 41 2 11 2 12 2 13 In Greece the administrative burden is exceptionally high (figure 14) Figure 15 Professional markets Figure 16 Corruption and Regulation 10 Denmark Sweden 9 Netherlands Norway UK TI corruprion perception index 2007 8 Germany Ireland Belgium 7 Spain Uruguay Portugal Estonia 6 Ιtaly 5 Bahrein Mauritius Cambodje Cuba 4 3 Guinea Filippines Zibabue 2 Τουρκµενιστάν Somalia Myanmar Greece Malaui Bulgaria Slovakia Letland Iraq 1 0 -3 -2 -1 0 1 WB Regulatory Quality, 2006 Governance Data. 2 3 Figure 17. The result of the strong demand growth that is not driven by an increase in domestic supply (because of the low competitiveness) is the lack of an increase in employment in spite of the rapid GDP growth Employment ratio for the population over 15 years of age. 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 France United Kingdom Finland 2006 Spain 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 Employment rate of population over 15 years of age. Greece. Source OECD. Figure 18. The paradox as an outlier. High GDP to employment growth and low competitiveness because of extreme product market regulation. (0=less restrictive, 6= more restrictive) Figure 19 Product market regulation. Degree of restrictiveness of regulation having an impact on economic behaviour. (0=less restrictive, 5= more restrictive) 2003 5,0 OECD average 4,5 4,0 3,5 HUN 3,0 ESP 2,5 2,0 NOR OECD average GBR SWE CAN USA 1,0 0,5 EU15 FIN IRL BEL GRC ITA PRT TUR CZE DEU JPN NLD NZL 1,5 CHE FRA POL AUT MEX KOR DNK ISL AUS 0,0 0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 3,5 4,0 4,5 1998 5,0 Figure 20 Restrictiveness of regulatory burden on business procedures (0=less restrictive, 6= more restrictive) 2003 6 OECD average 5 4 GRC POL 3 HUN 2 BEL ESP IRL CHE JPN ITA PRT CZE EU15 FRA AUT NOR GBR SWE CAN KOR MEX FIN DEU NLD USA OECD average 1 TUR DNK NZL ISL AUS 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 1998 6 Figure 21 shows Greece among OECD countries with the highest EPL. (0=less restrictive, 6= more restrictive) 2003 6 OECD average TUR 5 MEX 4 FRA PRT GRC 3 NOR BEL 2 FIN ESP NZL 1 AUT POL CHE 0 KOR SWE JPN NLD AUS CZE SVK CAN USA 0 OECD average ITA DNK HUN IRL GBR DEU EU15 1 2 3 4 5 6 1998 Figure 22. In spite of the rapid growth of the past years, the total profitability of the Greek corporations seems not to be high, with the exception of a spike around 1999 and 2000 (Figure 22). 8% 40% 35% 7% 30% 6% 25% 5% 20% 15% 4% 10% 3% 5% 2% 0% 2008 Manufacturing. Net profit before taxes to sales. Greece. ICAP. 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 Manufacturing. Gross profit to sales. Figure 23. Also, corporate profitability seems to be below euro zone averages. So besides employment, also corporate profits remain low in spite of the rapid GDP growth and high inflation. Profits before tax and extraordinaries to sales, non-financial companies. Sectors NACE Α to Κ and Μ, Ν,Ο. Germany C-I only. Italy except Μ,Ν. All companies of sample for each year (BACH definition ofr Variable Sample). Data for all countries except Greece BACH, data for Greece from ICAP, yearly edition of Guide to the Greek Company. Full yearly sample, comparable to BACH Variable Sample and same NACE sectors and definition for profit before tax and extraordinaries. Weighted average all countries except Greece Greece Belgium Germany Spain France Italy Netherlands Austria Portugal 4,45% 5,54% 3,43% 7,67% 4,00% 3,28% 6,72% 5,08% 6,47% 2003 5,43% 2004 4,97% 5,38% 5,84% 3,42% 7,66% 5,41% 5,05% 8,39% 5,62% 6,85% 2005 3,86% 6,01% 8,25% 3,73% 9,10% 5,58% 4,28% 12,93% 6,37% 7,79% 2006 5,04% 6,53% 7,58% 4,07% 10,11% 6,97% 4,66% 12,43% 5,29% 7,01% 2007 5,68% 7,17% 9,57% 5,98% 10,28% 7,51% 4,74% 7,84% 9,49% 2008 3,06% Summary of the paradox • • • • • • • • High growth rates were mainly due to ‘irrespectable of competitiveness’ demand injections (cheap credit, money from tourism and shipping boom, EU structural funds, the boost from the Olympic Games and Athens area infrastructure, extensive public borrowing) and some reforms (banking, telecoms, some Private-Public Partnerships but that is it more or less). High Productivity index during that period is a combination of an artificially ballooning GDP (nominator) and low labour force participation rate (denominator). (Closed markets + low competitiveness being the culprit for that). Very few unregulated and tax evading self employed (over)work and few salaried employees work in Greece as product, service and as a consequence, labour markets are extremely close and rigid. So, unemployment and non-employed rates are very high, especially among unconnected young. The, at the same time, “high productivity- ‘high (and of bad quality) market regulation’ ” puzzle is explained very well in the above context. High productivity is rather a deception, extensive market regulation and low competitiveness (in a high demand growth environment financed by borrowing and ‘subsidies’ indeed)- is true. Persisting inflation differentials and double-digit current account deficits and budget deficits + zero FDIs are only phenomena / consequences of falling competitiveness. The consistent ranking of Greece by all competitiveness, business environment, administrative cost and governance surveys at a rank that is disproportionally low when compared to its per capita GDP (Even compared to the productivity that is measured as GDP per worker, that we said we believe is to some or to a large extent, a deception). Corruption and institutional weaknesses characterized mainly by rent-seeking match well with this. Policy: Open markets, reduce unnecessary regulation, encourage reform in education and job creation (through any kind of tax credits), fix public finances by cutting public waste and taxing the untaxed privileged so as not to hit domestic demand. Create incentives for the black economy to incorporate to the official one. And build well working, independent institutions and an administration that is not corrupted by the rents closed market create now.