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Biggest Greek bank warns of dire euro exit fallout
Reuters ^ | May 29, 2012 | By Karolina Tagaris

Posted on 05/29/2012 3:29:05 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

(Reuters) - If Greece left the euro, living standards would plummet, incomes would be slashed by more than half, and inflation and unemployment would skyrocket, the National Bank of Greece warned on Tuesday.

In a report released ahead of an election on June 17 that may determine whether the country stays in the single currency, the country's biggest bank said the risk of Athens exiting the euro was no longer just a theoretical possibility, warning that the fallout from such a move would be dramatic.

"An exit from the euro would lead to a significant decline in the living standards of Greek citizens," the NBG wrote ahead of a vote which parties opposed to austerity measures that have kept Greece in the euro so far have a chance of winning.

The bank said per capita income would collapse by at least 55 percent, the new national currency would depreciate by 65 percent against the euro and a recession, now in its fifth year, would deepen by 22 percent.

Painting a dire picture of post-euro Greece, it added that unemployment would jump to 34 percent of the work force from around 22 percent now and that inflation would rise to 30 percent from its current level of 2 percent.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: countdown2war; euro; failure; greece; socialism
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Detroit. Or California. Or Obamaland.
1 posted on 05/29/2012 3:29:11 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Yeah, I was going to say, “Perfect storm for nobama types.”


2 posted on 05/29/2012 3:30:53 PM PDT by DallasDeb (usafa06mom)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

England is also going wobbly on the Euro.

If they and Greece pull out, the Euro is probably dead.

[Another idea that looked good on paper bites the dust.]


3 posted on 05/29/2012 3:31:30 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: TomGuy

England is not in the Eurozone — it still uses its Pound.


4 posted on 05/29/2012 3:35:44 PM PDT by expat2
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Government income recipients don’t see, yet, that we’re all in “Obamaland” in every US locale—what could become Romneybamaland. Have fun with the default process. Enjoy the slide. After bond investors take their big “haircuts” here, the debt/revenue-sucking sturgeon majority will, too.


5 posted on 05/29/2012 3:43:52 PM PDT by familyop ("Wanna cigarette? You're never too young to start." --Deacon, "Waterworld")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I agree with the article. Leaving the Euro will benefit Greece's politicians only. It will destroy what paltry capital Greece's struggling private sector has managed to accumulate.

Living standards improve through capital accumulation -- not capital destruction. Greece must stay in the Eurozone, cuts its budget and reduce taxes on capital and production

6 posted on 05/29/2012 3:48:46 PM PDT by BfloGuy (The final outcome of the credit expansion is general impoverishment.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
living standards would plummet, incomes would be slashed by more than half, and inflation and unemployment would skyrocket

How much further into the abyss can you go than from being 35 and still living with the folks?

7 posted on 05/29/2012 4:09:15 PM PDT by occamrzr06
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To: BfloGuy

Greece will enact no meaningful budget cuts nor will they reduce their taxes. Theyve already defaulted, they’re just not calling it that. Owners of Greek bonds took a 70% “haircut”, that’s a default no matter what you call it.

Greece is finished. It’s all over but the rioting.


8 posted on 05/29/2012 4:15:22 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Let em exit.


9 posted on 05/29/2012 4:18:39 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Greece will be very poor again soon. A place where it has always belonged and always will be.


10 posted on 05/29/2012 4:47:20 PM PDT by AdaGray
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Nigel Farage Interview May 25
http://www.kingworldnews.com/kingworldnews/Broadcast/Entries/2012/5/26_MEP_Nigel_Farage.html

Total social breakdown in Greece. Pensioners picking through garbage cans, people abandoning their children at churches, public suicides, possible military takeover. Lots of cheerful subjects.



11 posted on 05/29/2012 4:54:34 PM PDT by preacher (Communism has only killed 100 million people: Let's give it another chance!)
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To: TomGuy

Spain may pull out before Greece.


12 posted on 05/29/2012 4:55:13 PM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: MrEdd
Spain may pull out before Greece.

That may be the Black Swan event. Everyone over there knows both, and probably Portugal and Italy will go to, but they're all expecting Greece to go first. What a kicker if Spain takes cuts at the head of the line.

13 posted on 05/29/2012 5:01:16 PM PDT by Oatka (This is America. Assimilate or evaporate.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Naaaa...most of the Greek economy is tourist money....when Drachma’s hit the street...the tourons will invade in droves...and the “greek” bankers will be spending lotsa time doing some ‘splainin to their countrymen...


14 posted on 05/29/2012 5:02:06 PM PDT by mo (If you understand, no explanation is needed. If you don't understand, no explanation is possible.)
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To: occamrzr06
"How much further into the abyss can you go than from being 35 and still living with the folks?"

Being 35, completely homeless, starving and freezing to death--something for those with government-derived incomes from debt to consider and get ready for. The bond collapse and remainder of the default process is coming, and we don't have nearly enough sustainable revenues (manufacturing) to support contemporary spending.

Imagine a USA depending almost solely on agriculture done by big corporations.


15 posted on 05/29/2012 5:02:36 PM PDT by familyop ("Wanna cigarette? You're never too young to start." --Deacon, "Waterworld")
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The bank, at least to me, is trying to scare the voters. After all, the bank is concerned about their money. It is all about the greedy bank.


16 posted on 05/29/2012 9:03:52 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: AdaGray; Kolokotronis
A place where it has always belonged and always will be.

talk about short memories. Western Civilisation flows from Greece and Rome.

At the same time, Greece was the richest part of Europe right up until the 1700s, even after the Turkish conquest. It has been in constant debt since it's independence from Turkey in 1821.

The current lot, fed with EU money to a state of non-independence are different from their ancestors, so that "always belonged" is historically inaccurate.

The "always will be" is too much of a broad brush for what is unknown. Younger Greeks see the way their country is branded and are ashamed. Greeks 30+ are unfortunately stuck to the welfare teat and find it near difficult to leave

17 posted on 05/30/2012 12:39:12 AM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: Cronos

Oh puleeze. I am well aware of Greece ancient contributions. In fact, I had to study Greek in school. The point is that it has been a nation of whining cheaters for well over 2 centuries. Little can change it now.


18 posted on 05/30/2012 6:01:59 AM PDT by AdaGray
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To: AdaGray

Can you explain why you say for over two centuries? Why do you think 19th century Greeks or Greeks before WWII were whiners?


19 posted on 05/30/2012 1:21:29 PM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: AdaGray
Perhaps you are unaware of Greek history since the 2nd century BC? Let's focus on the past 200 years -- the period when you call them "whining cheaters" -- during this same period they fought against the Turks to get their independence after nearly 500 years of servitude and then fought debilitating wars throughout right up until the war against the Nazis.

Whining? no....

20 posted on 06/01/2012 4:54:03 AM PDT by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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