greece-10-understand-survival.pdf

711

the church is still a key element of Greek life even taking into account
the drop off in the younger generation’s footfalls to the local house
of worship.

National Psyche
Greeks are passionate, loyal and fi ery. Issues are debated with strong
will in the localkafeneio, and rather than living to work, Greek people
work to live, with an emphasis on fun and shared company rather than
slaving all hours in an offi ce.
In 2011 the average Athenian saw their wage severely cut, some say
as much as 15%, while living costs were soaring. All this with a rising
rate of around 16% unemployment, with one in four public-sector jobs
planned to be shelled to cut the defi cit. No surprise then that the Greek
psyche has shifted from relaxed to anxious, ‘A state,’ one Athenian told us,
‘that we’re just not used to.’
Greeks pride themselves on their fi lotimo (dignity and sense of
honour) and their fi loxenia (hospitality). Despite their current
fi scal problems, the average Greek will still lavish you with free drinks,
fresh cake from their kitchen, and the warmth they have always been
famous for. Curious by nature, nothing is off limits for conversation,
and you may fi nd yourself quizzed as to why you haven’t got children,
why you’re not married and how much you earn.
Greek society remains dominated by ‘the family’, and while many
men may appear soaked with machismo, the matriarchal domestic
model is still very much a commonplace, with women subtly pulling
the strings in the background.

GDP: €232 billion

(US$318 billion)

Per capita

income: €22,

(US$29,600)

Inflation: 1.57%

Unemployment:

16.2%

External debt:

€389 billion

(US$532 billion)

belief systems
(% of population)

Greek Orthodox Muslim

98

1.

Other

0.

93 would be Greek

7 would be other

if Greece were

100 people

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