The “A.G. Leventis Foundation Research Chair” is a new research programme focusing on European political economy issues of Greek interest. The Chair is funded by the A.G. Leventis Foundation and has been in operation since October 2017. The Chair funds each year a major study in a topical theme, which is carried out by researchers/academics of recognised value, and its findings are presented in a public event with the participation of high-profile commentators. Furthermore, part of the funding is directed to the filling of a Junior Researcher position. The Junior Researcher publishes a research paper with the title of the sponsor (A.G. Leventis Foundation) and participates in the research team carrying out the study. The Junior Researcher also has the opportunity to participate in conferences in Greece and abroad, prepare proposals for research programmes and submit annual progress reports on the work of the Chair. The programme lasts one year and is renewed annually.

Dimitris Katsikas, Head of Crisis Observatory, is the programme’s coordinator.

 Period 2017-2018

During 2017-2018 the Chair funded the study entitled “Reforms in Public Administration during the crisis: Review, Description, Evaluation.” The study documented the Public Administration reforms promoted by the Economic Adjustment Programmes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the implementation and impact of the reforms that have been implemented, as well as to assess the overall progress in Public Administration, including the obstacles that came up during the implementation effort. The research was coordinated by Professor Calliope Spanou, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The research team consisted of Dr. Christos Ioannou, Dr. Manto Lampropoulou, Dr. Evangelia Balla, and Professor Dimitrios Oikonomou.

You can find the Executive Summary of the main findings and conclusions of the report here.
The full report is available here (in Greek).

For the period 2017-18, the Junior Researcher position was filled by Mr. Vangelis Arvanitis, Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Economics of the University of Thessaly. Mr. Arvaniti’s Ph.D. Thesis topic is “Transparency of Central Banks and monetary policy transmission mechanisms.” As part of his duties, Mr. Arvanitis authored a research paper entitled “The impact of the European Central Bank’s monetary policy on European countries’ loan structure: the housing channel.”

Period 2018-2019

For the period 2018-19, the Chair funded the study “Structural changes in fiscal policy during the crisis: Institutional framework and economic results.” The study was coordinated by Panagiotis Tsakloglou, Professor at the Department of International and European Economic Studies, Athens University of Economics and Business. The report was co-authored by Professor Tsakloglou and Dr. Marianthi Anastasatou, economist at the Bank of Greece.

The topic was primarily chosen due to the central position of fiscal policy in the management of the crisis not only in Greece but also in the Eurozone more generally. The critical role of fiscal policy in the expected recovery of the Greek economy and the country’s transition in the post-memorandum era make this a highly important and topical issue.

You may access the full report, in Greek, here.

For the period 2018-19, the position of the Junior Researcher was originally filled by Mr. Zisis Manouzas, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The tile of Mr. Manouza’s Ph.D. Thesis is “Social Tolerance of Fiscal Austerity in the countries of the Eurozone: Explanations of Political Economy.”

Since 15 February 2019, the position of the Junior Researcher was filled by Ms. Pery Bazoti, graduate of the Department of International, European and Regional Studies of the Panteion University and post-graduate of European Economic Policy from the Athens University of Economics and Business. Ms Bazoti has research experience on programmes regarding the Greek and Eurozone Crises. As part of her duties, Ms. Bazoti authored a research paper entitled “Education and wage inequalities in Greece: access to higher education and its effects on income”.

Period 2019 – 2020

For the period 2019-2020, the Chair is funding a study assigned to Professors Margarita Katsimi, Sarantis Kalivitis and Thomas Moutos, at the Department of International and European Economic Studies, Athens University of Business and Economics. The study is entitled “Extroversion, Business Exports and the Wage Environment in the Greek Economy,” and it aims to provide a thorough analysis of the extroversion of the Greek economy in relation to the wage environment and its evolution in Greece, using data from Greek export companies. Particular emphasis will be placed on factors shaping the behavior of exporting companies in Greece, using as an extensive case study the decrease of the minimum wage, which was legislated in 2012 with a view to reducing youth unemployment as well as improving competitiveness. The main aim of the study is to become a policy guide at the Greek and international level for the implementation of more effective remuneration/ wage policies in relation to the extroversion of economies. Ms. Theoni Kakoulidou, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of International and European Economic Studies of the Athens University of Economics and Business, is also participating in the study.

The Research Assistant position of the Chair is filled by Ms. Dimitra Tsigkou, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The title of Ms. Tsigkou’s Ph.D. Thesis topic is “The Role of Germany and France in the Euro Area Reform: A Comparative Political Economy Approach.”