Protesters angry at corrupt politicians and businessmen have repeatedly stormed parliament in recent months, demanding punishment for those they blame for the crisis. Analysts say social peace in the face of austerity will partly hinge on the government being able to prosecute some high-profile case of graft and tax dodging.
Tax official Tsoukas warns that Athens could lose the battle for hearts and minds if more scandals emerge. "The young had started thinking differently and these latest events have disappointed them," he says. "They ask, if I pay, will my money go to some politician's villa?"
Not if it's up to the tax inspector dressed in pink and her team. "They really could never pay us enough for what we do, the hours we put in, the pressure we are under," she said, still at her computer. "But it's all worth it when I see a case go to prosecutors."
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=11372743Absolutely one of the greatest examples of how economics and politics merge. In Greece, arguably the crux of the world economy at the moment, everything depends on whether the government has credibility. Everything depends on whether tax cheats will be taken care of, yet at the same time not too many scandals emerging. Demonstration of utter seriousness and effectiveness on this matter in the face of bribery of public officials is a political matter, a matter of political will. Market models couldn't be less relevant.
