By Tasos Dasopoulos
Greeks are much more pessimistic than other Europeans about both the country’s economic situation and household finances. At the same time, they continue to trust the Euro as their common currency and largely endorse the EU’s joint action against the coronavirus pandemic.
In the latest Eurobarometer survey with a sample of 1,100 respondents in the period from 1/18 to 13/2, Greeks consider the economic situation in the country as bad at 89% and positive at only 10%, while only 1% did not want to answer . On average, the rest of the EU appears more optimistic, with 39% of respondents saying they consider the economic situation in their country positive, 59% bad and 2% did not know or did not answer.
Regarding the financial situation of their household, Greeks appear divided, with 50% describing it as good and 49% as bad. On average in the EU and at household level, almost three in four (72%) consider the economic situation to be positive and only 26% to be bad.
Closer to the European average are the answers regarding the expectations for the next 12 months.
To the question about the employment conditions, the answers from Greece at a rate of 24% are that the prospects will be better, 37% that they will be the same and 38% worse. Respectively in the EU 29% of the respondents answered that things will be better in 1 year, 37% that the situation will be the same and 31% worse.
Regarding the economic situation in the country, the answers from Greece at a rate of 24% are that the prospects will be better, 37% that they will be the same and 38% worse. At average levels in the EU, 28% of respondents said they expected the outlook to be better, 37% the same and 31% worse.
The biggest problems
Regarding the biggest problems facing Greece, the answers concern: health (41.5%), economic situation (40%), unemployment (34%), with the fourth biggest problem being inflation (32%) and fifth with a difference of 10%. Respectively at European level, the Europeans rank inflation (41%), health (32%), climate and environment (19%) and unemployment with a response rate of 16 as the top five problems for their country. %.
At household level the biggest problems for Greeks are inflation at 50% (compared to 51% in the EU), health at 24% (compared to 26% in the EU), the financial situation of the household which is a much bigger problem for Greece (26%), compared to Europe where the answers to the same question are at 13%.
Significant problems for Greeks on a personal level are pensions (14%) and living conditions (17%), while in the European average the issues occupy as problems 10% and 11% respectively of the respondents.
Confidence in the EU
Nevertheless, Greeks seem to trust the European Economic Union by 71% compared to 69% at EU average levels, while the negative answers to the question are 21% for Greece and 24% for the EU average.
Also, despite the period of the memoranda, the Greeks vote by a majority in favor of the Euro (56%) with the negative answers being at 24% and the neutral ones (ie those who declare neither for nor against) at 5%.
Respectively, at the European average, the answers in favor of the Euro are 63%, with the percentage against the Euro at 21% and the neutral opinions at 8%.
Source: Capital
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