Prostitutes, smugglers a boost Greek economy

CNN ^ | September 27, 2006 | Reuters

[Feldkurat_Katz]

ATHENS, Greece (Reuters) -- Prostitutes and smugglers (...) will now be counted in the country's official economic output(...)

Under pressure from the European Union to cut its deficits, Greece is revising its gross domestic product to include part of the booming black economy, boosting its output by at least 10 percent in 2006, the country's chief statistician told Reuters.

"The revised GDP will include some money from illegal activities, such as money from cigarette and drinks smuggling, prostitution and money laundering," (...)

[Feldkurat_Katz]

This article is not from The Onion! By the way, I think Greeks do it because EU requires them to maintain a certain ration of the budget deficit to the GDP. The higher GDP, the better.

[Feldkurat_Katz]

FYI

[RedCell]

Ah! The fruits of belonging to the EU!

[Tax-chick]

That's amazing! Why don't the just liberalize their economy so that people can earn a living "on the books"?

[Westlander]

Minister of Finance On The Job.

[Niuhuru]

Perversely I imagine it would be fitting since most politicians are absolute whores, willing to sell themselves to the highest bidder.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Prostitutes...will now be counted in the country's official economic output..."

Seems only fair...if you're puttin' out you're output should be counted.

[ingeborg]

Is it still Never on Sunday?

[Waverunner]

Don't demean whores, at least they deliver the goods as promised. Politicians usually don't

[Westlander]

Amen!