The Impact of the Lockdown on the Greek Economy and the Role of the Recovery Fund

Abstract

Abstract We develop a microfounded macroeconomic model that embeds the key features of the Greek economy. After calibrating the model to Greek data over 1995–2019, we assume that the economy is initially in the year 2019 and then quantify the adverse economic impact of the lockdown measures taken to control the spread of the pandemic, as well as the implications of the various policy measures (at national and EU level) taken to cushion the impact of the economic hit. We give quantitative answers to questions like: What will be the size and duration of the economic downturn? What are the implications of the national fiscal stimulus? What will be the role of the fiscal transfers coming from the European Recovery Fund? Our results imply that the national fiscal stimulus package adopted so far is helpful but, for the Greek economy to enter an era of sustainable growth, a mix of policies is also needed that combines: (i) a growth-enhancing fiscal mix (ii) product market deregulation (iii) a socially productive use of the resources coming from the Recovery Fund.