Tag: Greece

A MODULARITY DECOMPOSITION MODEL OF EVOLVING INPUT-OUTPUT SECTORIAL STRUCTURE

Dimitrios TSIOTAS

Assistant Professor, Department of Regional and Economic Development, School of Applied Economics and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Neo Ktirio – Nea Poli, 33100, Amfissa (Phocis), Greece

tsiotas@aua.gr

(Corresponding Author)

Elias GIANNAKIS

Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, School of Applied Economics and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece

egiannakis@aua.gr

Christos PAPADAS

Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, School of Applied Economics and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece

cpap@aua.gr

Abstract

This paper builds on the network paradigm to model the evolving input-output (IO) economic structure of Greece into a multiplex network (GION) and unveils structural changes during the period 2005-2015, with reference to the 2008 economic crisis. The results illustrate that the GION resembles to a composition of windmill graphs, it is more clustered at the neighborhood scale, with a tertiary sectorial orientation, a solid performance of the trade and transportation industries, inelastic demand in energy-related economic activities, a neutral profile in communication and manufacturing relevant activities, insufficient connectedness of education, and vulnerable in the construction-related economic activities and the public sector. A major finding describes that the tourism industry is dynamic more due to its dependence on the supportive economies than the intrinsic industrial productivity. The time-series and community detection analysis provide insights into distinguishing three stages in the GION’s evolution: the pre-crisis period (2005-2007), with a centralized topology in terms of outgoing connectivity and degree inequalities; the on-crisis period (2008-2010), with a decentralized topology and a tendency to reduce degree inequalities; and the post-crisis period (2011-2015), with a new state of centralized topology illustrating a recovery process. The analysis also reveals a diversified configuration in the Greek economy compared to the three-sector classical breakdown, composed of “tourism” and “transportation and energy” sector-like components, and the traditional secondary and tertiary sectors. Overall, the analysis shapes a “balloon” waiving pattern in the network evolution and reveals solid and fragment-favorable economic interactions in the GION’s structure, promoting network analysis to the input-output structural modeling.

Keywords: input-output networks, structural analysis, community detection, economic crisis, Greece

JEL classification: R00, R15

 pp. 107-133

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GRADUALLY SHIFTING THE NATIONAL PRODUCTION MODEL’S CENTER OF GRAVITY: INVESTING IN REGIONAL COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES FOR DEMOGRAPHIC RESTRUCTURING

Theodoros DIMOPOULOS

Researscher, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly

tdimopoulos@uth.gr

Aristi TSOKANI

Researscher, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly

atsokani@uth.gr

Christos GENITSAROPOULOS

Post-doctoral Researcher, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly

cgenits@uth.gr

Georgios XANTHOS

Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration & Tourism, School of Management and Economics Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University

xanthosg@hmu.gr

Angeliki MENEGAKI

Professor, Department of Business Administration & Tourism, School of Management and Economics Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University

amenegaki@hmu.gr

Eleni KAPRELI

Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly

ekapreli@uth.gr

Nikolaos STRIMPAKOS

Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly

nikstrimp@uth.gr

Abstract

Greece records an extremely negative performance in terms of balance between birth and death rates while existing data highlight a clear imbalance regarding population outflow. The paper intends to portray the demographic trajectory both at an EU and at a national level, coupled with providing at a certain extend insights about relevant projections. Additionally, the paper emphasizes on the case of Fthiotida (a Regional Unity falling within the Region of Central Greece) and the depopulation recorded between 2011-2021, while it describes Central Greece’s current tourism performance and its impact in terms of economic indicators. Taking those into consideration the paper’s initial purpose is to provide various insights to promote current public discourse on the necessity of the effective utilization of the region’s natural thermal resources as a mean that may result in attracting investments related to tourism industry, creating sustainable and well-paid health-related jobs, and subsequently build the foundations of curtailing demographic vaporization taking place in the forementioned area. The methodological approach adopted is related to the review and content analysis of current literature, subsequent inputs included in institutional reports, data derived by official documentation and high institutional level interventions taken place within the public discourse. The paper concludes to the well-founded assumption that exploiting Fthiotida’s natural resources in terms of thermal/hot springs, as a complementary component, may contribute to the creation of an integrated tourism product, able to support regional economy, enforce the argument of gradual shifting the country’s productive model center of gravity, starting from certain sectors which are able to thrive in Greek regions, and establish conditions that may put a curb on population bloodletting.

Keywords: demography, tourism, economic growth, Greece, Fthiotida

pp. 51-72

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THE ROLE OF ENERGY AS A GEOPOLITICAL FACTOR FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF GREEK-ISRAELI RELATIONS

Ioannis Th. MAZIS

Chair of the Faculty of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellas, www.geo-mazis.gr
mazis@her.forthnet.gr

Ioannis P. SOTIROPOULOS

Research Fellow, Laboratory of Geo-cultural Analyses, of the Greater Middle East and Turkey, Faculty of Turkish Studies and Modern Asian Studies, School of Economics and Political Sciences, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hellas
ipshellas@hotmail.com

Abstract

During the current historical coincidence, the geostrategic conjunction of Greece-Cyprus-Israel is a reality, in order for the three states to cope in the best possible manner with the contemporary and future challenges in the arena of international and regional relations.  Having a common strategic perception of the geopolitical sub-system of the south-eastern Mediterranean, Athens, Nicosia and Jerusalem strengthen day by day their political, diplomatic, economic and military relations, aiming at the preservation of stability in the area, against any revisionist factor. For the aforementioned strategic alliance, the discovery, extraction and exploitation of the hydrocarbon neo-reserves within the Greek, Cypriot and Israeli consecutive Exclusive Economic Zones, (EEZs), is the dynamic catalyst that reinforces even further the allied cooperation and effectiveness.  Amidst the geopolitical transformation of the wider region of North Africa, Middle and Near East, the construction of the East Mediterranean Pipeline, (East-Med), is a common pursuit of the outmost significance, for the strategic alliance. Indeed, if the East-Med is realized, it will be able to transfer, in the first phase, the Israeli and Cypriot hydrocarbons from the off-shore neo-reserves via Greek sovereign territory and EEZ to Italy and central Europe, signaling EU’s gradual disengagement from the dependence on the Russian natural gas, allowing the EU to make its first steps of energy emancipation.  Despite Ankara’s attempt for rapprochement with Jerusalem, the official Israeli position heavily leans towards an Israel-Greek-Cypriot strategic alignment, as Israel’s national security constitute the ultimate long-term priority for Jerusalem. Above all, such a development will upgrade the geopolitical status of all the three states of the strategic alliance in the regional geopolitical as well as the supra-geopolitical system.

Keywords: East Mediterranean energy neo-reserves, Levantine Basin, natural gas-field Zohr, East Mediterranean pipeline-(East-Med), south-east Mediterranean geopolitical sub-system, Israel, Cyprus, Greece

JEL classification:
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