Cut out and wear with pride |
Greece; you only have to say the word and it conjures up a myriad of images. Sun, sea, ancient civilisation, wonders of the world, economic crisis and moustaches. What doesn't spring to mind is entrepreneurship and business acumen.
Greeks have traditionally fallen into two categories as
far as work is concerned; public servant or self-employed. With
private-sector employee being very much a consolation prize. A job,
any job in the public sector has always been regarded the safe,
secure route, not overly taxing with tenure and a reliable pay-cheque.
Self-employment, on the other hand hovers around nearly 40% of the
workforce, more than twice the UK level and nearly four times the US.
Greeks have been running their own businesses for years. From fishing
boats to cigarette kiosks, from farming to shipping, Greeks have been
doing the business in business. In fact, in spite of the efforts of
the country's largest employer, the government, the people of this
greatly misunderstood nation have managed to turn a tidy profit and
send a fair bit of it to Germany; there are more Mercedes on Greek
roads than Fords.