The latest “Greek Economic Outlook” report by the Centre of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) offers an  optimistic forecast for Greece, anticipating the rate of recession for 2015 to drop to 0.3%, as a result of the 1% growth rate in the first half of the year. The country’s GDP however is expected to shrink by 1.3%., with the average rate of change of real GDP in the second half of 2015 at about -1.6% as compared to the same period last year.
 
The report includes sections on “Macroeconomic analysis and projections”, “Public finance”, “Human resources and social policies”, “Development policies and sectors”, and special articles on “The relationship between Tourism Receipts, Real Exchange Rate and Economic Growth in Greece”, “Education and unemployment prospects across regions in Greece”, and “Competitiveness of the Manufacturing Sector in the Eurozone countries, EU19”. 
 
According to the publication’s editorial, measures that need to be taken for growth and recovery include: taxation increasing its base whilst reducing its intensity; curbing the out-migration of the country’s human capital and utilizing it; investment to finance new business ventures and technological upgrading of production facilities and service provision businesses. At the same time, sectors performing well in exports industries with comparative advantage should be preserved and bolstered with development laws, while the banking system needs to regain depositors trust flexibility to become once again a lever for economic development.
 
KEPE is the largest economics research institute in Greece. It focuses on applied research projects in regard to the Greek economy, and provides technical advice to the government and the country’s regional authorities on economic and social policy issues. KEPE’s publications include Studies,Reports, Discussion Papers, Research collaborations, the Greek Economy monthly report and the four-monthly Greek Economic Outlook. 
 

TAGS: BUSINESS & TRADE | CRISIS | ECONOMY & DEVELOPMENT