How Sustainable and Inclusive Is Economic Growth in Greece? Trends, Public Policies, and Their Effectiveness

This article addresses the question of how environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive the type of economic growth Greece is following actually is. It discusses issues of sustainability and well-being measurement that are put forward by the Beyond-GDP growth approach. It attempts to depict the state of play of the Greek economy, society, and environment by reviewing a wide range of indicators and reports published by major international, regional, and non-governmental institutions and organizations. It refers to the current policy frameworks, highlights gaps in the governance and evaluation processes, and offers some suggestions. It touches upon the contradiction of the official sustainable development jargon and the adverse effect on social cohesion and the environment of the policies implemented. It concludes by linking the below-EU average performance of significant social and environmental indicators to the dominant economic paradigm, and criticizes the priority of economic growth over socioeconomic equity and environmental sustainability given by mainstream policymaking.