London Business School (LBS) published an article offering insights into how the Greek economy might bounce back at its recent Reload Greece conference, co-presented by LBS and SEESOX, Oxford’s European Studies Centre.
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Michael G. Jacobides and Professor of Economics Elias Papaioannou believe Greek recovery depends on “greater transparency [and] allowing entrepreneurs and established firms to bolster the economy.”
Reload Greece featured a “host of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, economists and policy makers who looked at the best ways to support growth in Greece.”
Jacobides believes two crucial pieces of the puzzle for Greece are an overhaul of its public administration and government accountability.
“In nearly every domain—from healthcare to education and the environment—the Greek government is avoiding applying credible metrics to assess the effectiveness of its policies and initiatives. Without a focus on the right numbers, Greece will carry on muddling through from crisis to crisis, with a privileged few profiting from the economy’s travails.”
The road to recovery is far from inconceivable, with Greece managing to wipe 15 percent of its deficit clean, much to the chagrin of economists. But Jacobides says time is of the essence, and the time to push for the right figures is now.