Search Results for: National Bank of Greece
The global debt problem
April 15th, 2021
It has been recently estimated that global debts stand at $284 trillion equivalent, representing 355% of global GDP. Estimates such as these must be treated with caution, and they probably underestimate financial sector debt. Furthermore, no allowance in ...
The ECB’s financial suttee
March 22nd, 2021
The European Commission is failing. Its response to Brexit and the pandemic, where it is now threatening emergency powers in order to secure vaccines is a latest throw of the political dice. Even before this development markets were getting ...
The destruction of the euro
October 26th, 2020
The Eurozone is bust. The deterioration of TARGET2 imbalances have been hardly noticed, but in recent months it has been alarming. Despite official denials over the years that it is a matter of concern, it is increasingly obvious ...
EU expecting COVID-19 dent in 2020 VAT collections
September 30th, 2020
The European Commission has published its latest VAT gap report, which show that EU countries lost an estimated EUR140bn (USD165.7bn) in VAT revenues in 2018, down EUR1bn in nominal terms on the year prior. The “VAT gap” measures the ...
The Eurozone’s financial disintegration
July 31st, 2020
Introduction The Euro Crisis Monitor (above) shows the increasing imbalances in the TARGET2 settlement system between all its members: the ECB (itself with a €145bn deficit) and the national central banks in the Eurozone. Other than minor differences reflecting ...
Europe Bails Out Its Failed States with “Common” (i.e., German) Bonds
July 22nd, 2020
The “European Project” was designed with something like the current crisis in mind. The adoption of a common currency was just the first, politically easiest, step in a process that would eventually – its architects hoped – culminate ...
Post-Brexit planning
December 20th, 2019
Brexit will be done by the end of next month, when trade negotiations with the EU will begin. Importantly, Britain’s negotiating position has strengthened immeasurably, and the new government is not afraid to use it. This Conservative government ...
VAT Gap: EU countries lost €137 billion in VAT revenues in 2017
September 12th, 2019
EU countries lost €137 billion in Value-Added Tax (VAT) revenues in 2017 according to a study released by the European Commission today. The so-called ‘VAT Gap’ – or the overall difference between the expected VAT revenue and the amount ...
Contingent liabilities and non-performing loans in the EU Member States
January 31st, 2019
Data on contingent liabilities and non-performing loans of EU governments for the year 2017 have been published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. This publication includes data on government guarantees, liabilities related to public-private partnerships recorded off-balance ...
The Tragedy Of The Euro
January 11th, 2019
After two decades, the euro’s minders look set to drive the Eurozone into deep trouble. December was the last month of the ECB’s monthly purchases of government debt. A softening global economy will increase government deficits unexpectedly. The ...
