This column, signed by 25 LSE economists, urges the Greek government and its creditors to act more responsibly. The first priority is to get Greece on a path of sustainable growth by relaxing austerity in the near term and linking debt restructuring to essential structural improvements.
The eurozone is currently facing its biggest crisis since its creation in 1999. The consequences of Greece leaving the eurozone are highly uncertain and could very well be detrimental to both Greece and the eurozone. To avoid Grexit, it is essential that both the creditors and the Greek government act in an economically responsible manner.
The first priority for everybody should be to get the Greek economy on a sustainable growth path. This would benefit the Greeks, reduce the risk of financial turmoil, and maximise the amount of money the Greeks can return to their creditors. If both parties are truthful in saying that they would prefer Greece to remain in the Eurozone, then they need to recognise the need to restore economic growth. That would require the following.
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The institutions have to agree to a relaxation of fiscal austerity, at least until Greece is on the recovery path. Austerity during a recession is the wrong policy as it deepens the recession. Continuation of the stringent austerity measures implemented by Greece is delaying recovery. More fiscal austerity could fail the creditors too, if recovery is so slow that the fiscal deficit increases. Public investment has collapsed completely and providing more funds for investment projects that can improve the infrastructure and create jobs should be given priority.
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Although some progress has been made, further structural improvements are necessary, including pensions and VAT, anti-corruption, tax compliance, and institutional reform of product and labour markets. It is important that the Greek government acknowledges that there is still a lot to be done and comes up with credible proposals.
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The Greek economy is not likely to recover as long as there is still significant uncertainty about the future and there is no credible path towards a situation in which the Greek debt is sustainable. It is essential to achieve an early agreement to get Greek debt levels to sustainable levels, even if it is to be conditional on progress elsewhere. Conditionality on structural improvements is a good way forward.
Signed by:
Professor Oriana Bandiera
Professor Erik Berglof
Dr Margaret Bray
Professor Robin Burgess
Professor Francesco Caselli
Professor Wouter Den Haan
Dr Swati Dhingra
Dr Andrew Ellis
Dr Greg Fischer
Professor Charles Goodhart
Dr Vassilis Hajivassiliou
Dr Ethan Ilzetzki
Professor Richard Jackman
Dr Christian Julliard
Professor Henrik Kleven
Dr Camille Landais
Dr Jonathan Leape
Professor Gerard Padró i Miquel
Professor, Sir Christopher Pissarides
Dr Veronica Rappoport
Dr Johannes Spinnewijn
Professor Silvana Tenreyro
Professor John Van Reenen
Professor Dimitri Vayanos
Dr Shengxing Zhang
Dr Gabriel Zucman
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