The 23rd issue of Industrial Review, in March 1997, deals with the “chronic problem” of Greece’s trade deficit. In its editorial we read:   “The merchandise trade deficit is partly offset by exports of invisibles- earnings from tourism, shipping and remittances from emigrants- but these are cyclical and prey to exogenous factors.”   With the exception of “remittances from emigrants” the rest sound worryingly contemporary.   Worryingly contemporary sounds, also, the following conclusion:   “Greek farmers, industrialists and members of [...]

The October 1996 issue of Industrial Review is dedicated to Greek manufacturing. Under the title “From smokestack to software”, the issue hosts a detailed survey on the many challenges Greek manufacturing was facing in the wake of the new world economic order of the 1980’s and 1990’s. • George Alogoskoufis, then professor of the Athens Economic University and later minister of Finances (2004-2009) writes about the lack of competitiveness and the policies of nationalization of ailing companies. • Antonis Krontiras, [...]

The cover is titled “Evolution- Revolution” depicting the fundamental changes in the way banks operated in Greece.   From a development and business oriented modus operandi, banks start looking at consumers and “making money out of money” as the issue notes.   The issue hosts interviews of the most prominent figures of the sector at the time:   then Governor of the Bank of Greece, Lukas Papadimos the late chairman of Alpha Credit Bank, Yannis Costopoulos the late Theodore Karatzas, [...]

The May 1992 issue of Viomichaniki Epitheorisi is dedicated to one of Greece’s timeless struggles: how to attract foreign investment. A special survey by Robert McDonald looked into the main obstacles (bureaucracy, price controls, market size, poor infrastructure). The issue includes articles on investments made by multinationals like Siemens, Pirelli, Unilever.   It also presents iconic cases like the Aluminium de Grèce (at that point under French control) , C. Itoh, Dow Chemicals Hellas, Hellas Can.   To download the  [...]

Viomichaniki Epitheorisi’s second issue, in March 1992, is concerned by the energy dependence of Greece. Back then, the main worry was the energy intensity- the rate of energy consumption relative to GDP and its rapidly rising trend. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that Greeks loved their cars and did not much use public transportation. The Prinos oil field, 8 km off-shore the coast of the Thassos island had been in operation for less than a year and its [...]

Viomichaniki Epitheorisi makes its official  debut, in December 1991,  with an exclusive interview of then Minister of Finance, Yannis Paleokrassas. The subject? The revolution planned in the banking sector. Y. Paleokrassas declares that it is time for commercial banks "to operate on their own" as he prepares to introduce a new banking act.   Interestingly enough we read that "the Bank of Greece is working on a deposit guarantee scheme, as Greece is the only member of the European Community [...]

  A few days before the 9th of May, officially known as Europe Day celebrating peace and unity in European continent, we recollect what we wrote in 1996 about EU and Greece’s prospects within it and the potential major projects in the country.     To download the March 1996 issue, click here for the first part, here the second part and here for the third one.

Ten years ago, just before Greece had to formally ask for its EU partners’ assistance in the form of a bailout plan, it attempted to put – belatedly on foot – its own stability plan. Business File of February/March 2010 chronicled this effort. But it was a case of too little, too late for the markets…