Are Greeks Really the Poor Relations of the European Union? Evidence of the Standard of Living
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Date
2005
Authors
Close, David Henry
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Volume Title
Publisher
Flinders University Department of Languages - Modern Greek
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Abstract
Greek governments frequently emphasise that their goal is convergence in standard of living with the European Union average, and assume that they have far to go. This paper discuses the methods available to compare standards of living between the 15 member countries. They are: estimates of Gross Domestic Product at Purchasing Power Parity; average incomes in relation to average prices of everyday necessities; estimates of income inequality; subjective expressions of satisfaction with living conditions, and subjective assessments of improvement or deterioration in them; and ownership of certain goods, and of homes. Each measure is open to objection; but on most, Greece comes near the bottom of the EU scale. According to the other criteria of Human Development adopted by the United Nations, Greece rates high in health but low in educational level.
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Keywords
Greek Research, Greece, Australia, language, literature, David Close
Citation
Close, David 2005. Are Greeks Really the Poor Relations of the European Union? Evidence of the Standard of Living. In E. Close, M. Tsianikas and G. Frazis (eds.) "Greek Research in Australia: Proceedings of the Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University April 2003", Flinders University Department of Languages - Modern Greek: Adelaide, 225-240.