I was reading up on the Greek tragedy (no pun originally intended) the other day, and I found the levels of Greek corruption to be an eye-opener. A third of the economy based on the black market (a mere 27% for Italy), 12% of GDP in lost tax money, and bribes taken not by crooked politicians and mobsters, but by doctors, lawyers and the tax officials themselves! A culture that openly laughs at the British because #5k of taxpayers' money spent by an MP on house improvements, or #30k to falsely employ a wife or child for18 months?!
A good point was raised when someone said 'They knew what the Greek economy was like - why'd they let them into the Euro in the first place?'
It looks like leaving the euro could be a blessing in disguise for Greece (well, a few years down the road, anyway). An overinflated currency apparently meaning they've lost a lot of tourism income.
But really, I want to know how Greece became so politically and economically corrupt. Did anyone try to address this, seriously?
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