Economy (Greece)
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Overview:
Greece has a mixed capitalistic economy with the basic entrepreneurial
system overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist government that enlarged the
public sector from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70% when Prime Minister
Mitsotakis took office. Tourism continues as a major industry, and
agriculture - although handicapped by geographic limitations and fragmented,
small farms - is self-sufficient except for meat, dairy products, and animal
feedstuffs. The Mitsotakis government inherited several severe economic
problems from the preceding socialist and caretaker administrations, which
had neglected the runaway budget deficit, a ballooning current account
deficit, and accelerating inflation. In early 1991, the government secured a
$2.5 billion assistance package from the EC under the strictest terms yet
imposed on a member country, as the EC finally ran out of patience with
Greece's failure to put its financial affairs in order. Over the next three
years, Athens must bring inflation down to 7%, cut the current account
deficit and central government borrowing as a percentage of GDP, slash
public-sector employment by 10%, curb public-sector pay raises, and broaden
the tax base.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $77.6 billion, per capita $7,730; real growth
rate 1.0% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
17.8% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
8.6% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $33.0 billion, including capital
expenditures of $3.3 billion (1991)
Exports:
$6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
manufactured goods 48%, food and beverages 22%, fuels and lubricants 6%
partners:
Germany 22%, Italy 17%, France 10%, UK 7%, US 6%
Imports:
$18.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
consumer goods 33%, machinery 17%, foodstuffs 12%, fuels and lubricants 8%
partners:
Germany 21%, Italy 15%, Netherlands 11%, France 8%, UK 5%
External debt:
$25.5 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate - 2.4% (1990); accounts for 22% of GDP
Electricity:
10,500,000 kW capacity; 36,420 million kWh produced, 3,630 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism,
mining, petroleum
Agriculture:
including fishing and forestry, accounts for 17% of GDP and 27% of the labor
force; principal products - wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives,
tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; self-sufficient in food except meat,
dairy products, and animal feedstuffs; fish catch of 115,000 metric tons in
1988
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,390 million
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