Europe’s Economic Struggles Continue Despite Greek Deal

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　　Just as Greece appears close to resolving its domestic political dispute and accepting a financial rescue package from the European Union, Italy is edging closer to an economic crisis of its own.

　　Italy’s large debt and concerns about the stability of its government drove up the interest rate on its bonds to more than 6.5 pecent.  That makes it more difficult for the Italian government to borrow money to finance its operations and make payments on its debt.  Experts say a rate of 7 percent would be more than the country could afford and could trigger the need for a bailout by its European Union partners.

　　The problem is, experts say Italy is too big to bail¹ out.

　　The chief economist² at London’s Centre for European Reform, Simon Tilford, says the European Central Bank must step in - something its top officials are reluctant to do.

　　“The problem at the moment is that we’re in a period of exceptionally weak economic growth.  We’re going through unprecedented³ economic weakness.  And that, I think, requires unorthodox action on the part of central banks,” said Tilford.

　　Tilford says if the central bank buys some Italian bonds, it will give other investors⁴ the confidence to do the same, and at affordable⁵ interest rates.  He believes that is a more practical and effective approach to the troubled European economies, arguing that austerity packages like the one being forced on Greece will not actually solve the problem.

　　“The budget cuts they’ve been asked to make are unfeasible," said Tilford. "If they do attempt to push them through, all they’re going to do is compound the weaknesses.  The current policy response guarantees just almost indefinite stagnation⁶, recession in the Greek economy and ongoing⁷ debt servicing problems.”

　　Research fellow Benedicta Marzinotto at the Bruegel Institute in Brussels agrees that a bailout based on austerity alone may not be the way to solve Greece’s problems, or Europe’s.

　　“I’m not sure if they are the right way to go.  Some austerity is needed.  I believe it should be complemented⁸ with other measure, such as growth-enhancing measures,” said Marzinotto.

　　Meanwhile, other European countries, notably⁹ Portugal and Ireland, are also implementing¹⁰ restructuring plans, and Spain is working to reassure¹¹ investors that it is a reliable place to put their money.

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