2006-11-03 22:11:44 · 6 answers · asked by Velea I 1 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Greece
Out on some of the islands, the Euro was phased in gently so it made less of an impact.
I think most Greeks would agree that the Euro is a useful economic tool and has helped cement their position in the EC, even though many may wish the drachma was still in use.
Despite the phase-in, some of the older people found it difficult to cope with the new currency. This is no different from when decimalisation hit the UK though, so not a real surprise.
The biggest change and the major concern of the Greeks is the contribution the Euro appears to have made to inflation. Certainly when the Euro was properly introduced, the habit of "rounding up" was rife and many cheaper products rocketed. The price of a beer which I remember at 300 drachmae only a few years ago, is now averaging around 2.50 euros - more than double what it should be if "average" inflation figures are applied.
2006-11-04 03:00:12 · answer #1 · answered by the_lipsiot 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many countries experienced the adoption of the euro as an inflationary phenomenon but Greece's situation was negatively compounded by the Olympics, when business owners took advantage of the demand to raise their prices to extraordinary levels. Tourists have been put off by this and will wait until the matter is dealt with by the law of supply and demand.
Hope that helps!
2006-11-04 11:26:08 · answer #2 · answered by love2travel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were supportive because they knew it would help their economy integrate with the more prosperous parts of Europe.
Yet, the man on the street, saw every day prices go up very rapidly.
In Ireland we saw most people comfortable with using the Euro within one year.
In Greece, 3 and 4 years later it was common for people to quote prices in drachma.
2006-11-04 02:47:42 · answer #3 · answered by Paroshep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u know in the begging everything is difficult
the people in the market they put high prices bcz the people didn't know exactly the rate, the draxmes was more up than the euro so when u buy sth u thought that is cheapest but it was more expensive actually
2006-11-03 23:38:40 · answer #4 · answered by maria sandhu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had to adopt it as members of the E.U. but did not like it; prices increased tremendously and most of us still think in Dracmas (the old currency).
It's a necessity, but do not like it.
2006-11-05 22:15:12 · answer #5 · answered by ngiapapa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its improved
2006-11-05 05:44:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋