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Greek bailout crisis in 300 words | Greek bailout crisis in 300 words |
(2 months later) | |
Greece has emerged from controversial bailout programmes that came with years of austerity - here's a very quick guide on why this happened. | Greece has emerged from controversial bailout programmes that came with years of austerity - here's a very quick guide on why this happened. |
How did this start? | How did this start? |
In 2008 the world's worst financial crisis in almost 80 years caused a global recession. | In 2008 the world's worst financial crisis in almost 80 years caused a global recession. |
Many European countries had huge government debts but Greece was worst affected, with a spiralling spending deficit. It had borrowed much more money than it was able to make in revenue through taxes. | Many European countries had huge government debts but Greece was worst affected, with a spiralling spending deficit. It had borrowed much more money than it was able to make in revenue through taxes. |
In 2010, the country revealed its sky-high deficit and was frozen out of bond markets. | In 2010, the country revealed its sky-high deficit and was frozen out of bond markets. |
What happened next? | What happened next? |
Greece asked for a financial rescue by the European Union and International Monetary Fund. | Greece asked for a financial rescue by the European Union and International Monetary Fund. |
Bailouts - emergency loans aimed at saving sinking economies - began in 2010. | Bailouts - emergency loans aimed at saving sinking economies - began in 2010. |
Greece received three successive packages, totalling €289bn (£259bn; $330bn), but they came with the price of drastic austerity measures. | Greece received three successive packages, totalling €289bn (£259bn; $330bn), but they came with the price of drastic austerity measures. |
What about the people? | What about the people? |
For many Greeks - especially the young - the years of economic hardship were severe. | For many Greeks - especially the young - the years of economic hardship were severe. |
People's despair turned into riots on the streets, as they suffered spending cuts, high taxes and repeatedly slashed salaries and pensions. | People's despair turned into riots on the streets, as they suffered spending cuts, high taxes and repeatedly slashed salaries and pensions. |
More than 400,000 people emigrated and in 2013 the unemployment rate peaked at 27.5% - but for those under 25 it was 58%. | |
At the height of the crisis, some worried that the eurozone - the 19 countries that shared the euro - would collapse alongside Greece. | At the height of the crisis, some worried that the eurozone - the 19 countries that shared the euro - would collapse alongside Greece. |
Are things better? | Are things better? |
Three-quarters of Greeks think the bailouts harmed the country. | Three-quarters of Greeks think the bailouts harmed the country. |
The economy is 25% smaller than when the crisis began and it will take decades to pay off its debt pile of 180% of GDP. | The economy is 25% smaller than when the crisis began and it will take decades to pay off its debt pile of 180% of GDP. |
But for the first in almost a decade, Greece is off life support. | But for the first in almost a decade, Greece is off life support. |
The economy has stabilised and grown slowly and it can borrow on international markets again. | The economy has stabilised and grown slowly and it can borrow on international markets again. |
Want to know more? | Want to know more? |
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