Κοινωνική Συνοχή και Ανάπτυξη. Social Cohesion and Development

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1 Κοινωνική Συνοχή και Ανάπτυξη Social Cohesion and Development issue17.indd 1 23/6/ :42:26 πμ

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3 Κοινωνική Συνοχή και Ανάπτυξη (1), 3 Social Cohesion and Development (1), 3 Περιεχόμενα Contents AΡΘΡΑ Articles Manos Spyridakis & Andreas Feronas, The impact of the economic crisis on the quality of life for residents of Attiki area. The experience from the City of Marousi George Simeonidis, Dafni Diliagka & Anna Tsetoura, The legal protection of the accrued contributions in the Greek Public Pension Fund for the Self-Employed in view of the latest reductions Dimitris Zavras, Mary Geitona & John Kyriopoulos, Primary Health Services Utilization in Greece: Studying the Past for Planning the Future Kyriakos Souliotis, Petros Tsantilas & Xenophon Contiades, Is there Health Insurance in Greece outside EOPYY? Feasibility analysis of creating an independent, private Health Fund for Employees of the Banking Sector ΒΙΒΛΙΟΚΡΙΤΙΚΕΣ Book Reviews Κουτσιαράς Νίκος, Οι καιροί αλλάζουν-εμείς; Κείμενα για την Ευρωπαϊκή πολιτική οικονομία πριν και μετά την κρίση (Μ. Αγγελάκη), Χριστόδουλος Μπέλλας (επιμ.), Οικιακή εργασία και κοινωνική ένταξη μεταναστριών στην Ελλάδα της οικονομικής κρίσης (D. Lazarescu - Ε. Μαλεκάκη), Ιορδάνης Ψημμένος (επιμ.), Εργασία και κοινωνικές ανισότητες. Προσωπικές υπηρεσίες και υπηρετικό δυναμικό (Α. Ασπρούλης), Ελένη Πρόκου (επιμ.), Κοινωνικές διαστάσεις των πολιτικών στην ανώτατη εκπαίδευση: συγκριτική και διεθνής προσέγγιση (Γ. Σταμέλος) issue17.indd 3 23/6/ :43:04 πμ

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5 Κοινωνική Συνοχή και Ανάπτυξη (1), 5-28 Social Cohesion and Development (1), 5-28 Άρθρα Articles The impact of the economic crisis on the quality of life for residents of Attiki area. The experience from the City of Marousi Manos Spyridakis, University of the Peloponnese Andreas Feronas, University of the Peloponnese Ο αντίκτυπος της οικονομικής κρίσης στην ποιότητα της ζωής των κατοίκων της Αττικής. Η εμπειρία της πόλης του Αμαρουσίου Μάνος Σπυριδάκης, Πανεπιστήμιο Πελοποννήσου Ανδρέας Φερώνας, Πανεπιστήμιο Πελοποννήσου ABSTRACT This paper attempts to shed light on the impact of the economic recession upon several dimensions of quality of life, based on data collected from an ongoing smallscale qualitative empirical research in the Municipality of Maroussi, Attica. It attempts to incorporate both, elements relating to certain objective conditions of living and, mostly, subjective opinions, perceptions and representations about the economic crisis in Greece. The picture gained so far reveals that the economic crisis and the policies of memoranda have caused deep wounds, not only in terms of disposable income and material resources of individuals and households but also to the overall quality of life, with serious implications for social cohesion as such. KEY WORDS: Economic crisis, quality of life, subsistence level, subjective wellbeing, social cohesion ΠΕΡIΛΗΨΗ Το άρθρο αυτό επιχειρεί να φωτίσει τις επιπτώσεις της κρίσης σε ορισμένες διαστάσεις της ποιότητας ζωής των πολιτών, αξιοποιώντας πρωτογενές υλικό από μια περιορισμένης κλίμακας ποιοτική εμπειρική διερεύνηση στο Δήμο Αμαρουσίου Αττικής. Επιχειρεί να ενσωματώσει τόσο στοιχεία που αφορούν ορισμένες αντικειμενικές προϋποθέσεις διαβίωσης, αλλά κυρίως υποκειμενικές απόψεις, αντιλήψεις και αναπαραστάσεις για τη βαθιά οικονομική κρίση που μαστίζει τη χώρα μας. Η εικόνα που σχηματοποιείται αποκαλύπτει ότι η οικονομική κρίση και οι πολιτικές των μνημονίων έχουν επιφέρει βαθιά πλήγματα, όχι μόνο όσον αφορά στο διαθέσιμο εισόδημα και τους υλικούς πόρους των ατόμων και των νοικοκυριών αλλά και συνολικά στην ποιότητα ζωής τους, με σοβαρές επιπτώσεις για την πυκνότητα της ίδιας της κοινωνικής συνοχής. ΛΕΞΕΙΣ-ΚΛΕΙΔΙΑ: Οικονομική κρίση, ποιότητα ζωής, επίπεδο διαβίωσης, υποκειμενική ευημερία, κοινωνική συνοχή. issue17.indd 5 23/6/ :43:04 πμ

6 [6] ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΟΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ 1. Theoretical Context 1.1 Introduction In the recent years, the notion of the Quality of Life has become a rapidly growing research area in an array of social and health sciences, such as sociology, political science, economy, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, environmental sciences, medicine etc. Each of the aforementioned sciences has developed different approaches to the idea of quality of life, resulting to its controversial definitions in the relevant literature, as well as to the lack of a commonly accepted tool for its measurement and evaluation (Mickel, Dallimore and Nelson, 2004). However, despite the diversity of its definitions and their partial inconsonance, the majority of theorists seem to converge towards the concept of quality of life as a multidimensional idea, consisting of both objective and subjective elements (Rapley, 2003, Beham, Drobnic and Verwiebe, 2006). A general overview of those theories exceeds the scope of this short introductory text; it intends to focus on some of the most important theoretical approaches to the quality of life which have been developed in the field of social sciences and are concisely presented in the following section. 1.2 Quality of life : Theoretical approaches After reviewing the relevant literature 1, we come up with three basic categories of approaches to the quality of life: The first approach is generally known as the level of living approach and was developed by Swedish scholars in the 1960s (Erikson, 1974, 1993; Erikson and Uusitalo, 1987). This approach considers quality of life in relation to the amount of resources and commodities available to an individual, such as money, fortune, knowledge, mental and physical energy, social relationships and security, which individuals exploit to control and consciously direct their living conditions (Erikson, 1993, 72-3). The spotlight here is on the objective factors which define the level of living and life opportunities of people and might go beyond the simple availability of monetary resources, including for example level of healthcare and education, work environment, house size and facilities etc. This view presents some analogies with the studies on poverty, which are usually founded on certain objective indicators of lifestyle deterioration, such as the level of income, lack of housing, environmental adversities, along with the inability to participate in activities commonly accessible to the majority of people living in affluent societies 2 (Vesan and Bizzotto, 2011:4). The criticism against the level of living approach focuses on its lopsided emphasis on the objective conditions and on the fact that it does not take into account variations in lifestyle or personality. For example, those individuals who do not value money and material possessions that highly may feel more happy and satisfied than those who greedily pursue to accumulate riches. Additionally, long-term studies on the satisfaction from life and happiness have demonstrated that human happiness is not proportional to one s income or the GDP (Beham, Drobnič and Verwiebe, 2006:6). On the opposite end of the theoretical spectrum, the American theoretical school of social psychology also developed in the 60 s defines quality of life in terms of Subjective Wellbeing 3. According to this approach, prosperity and quality of life are subjectively perceived and experienced by each individual. Therefore the individual himself is the ideal evaluator of issue17.indd 6 23/6/ :43:04 πμ

7 SOCIAL COHESION AND DEVELOPMENT [7] his own quality of life, in terms of subjective wellbeing (Noll, 2004:8). If, as Campbell claims (1972: 442), the quality of life is in the eye of the beholder, it would be crucial to examine how individuals experience or perceive the outcomes achieved throughout their lives and not the availability of inputs. Hence, the quality of life should be defined by the outcomes which are achieved during its course, such as the affluence of material and social resources. The most popular indicators for the measurement of subjective wellbeing include the variables of satisfaction and happiness (Noll, 2004). Subjective welfare has also been a fundamental factor for welfare economics, since research has indicated that, although happiness is positively associated with income, this correlation seems weaker in the context of more developed economies, where the subjective evaluation of life is mainly influenced by the relevant social status of each individual and not only from the mere amount of the material resources available to them (Vesan and Bizzotto 2011:5). A third definition of quality of life originates from the capabilities approach, which was developed by the Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen. According to this approach, quality of life can be perceived in relation to the individual s capabilities, which allow for the achievement of functionings (Sen, 1993:31). The term functionings refers to the actual situations and activities which are achieved and experienced by an individual throughout his life. While some of those functionings are quite fundamental, such as being healthy, some others are more composite, such as self-esteem and social inclusion. On the other hand, the term capabilities refers to one s options or freedom to choose among several functionings and conquer those which appeal more to him, in other words his freedom to choose which ones he will pursue and which ones he will not (Sen, 1987: 36). This approach attempts to remedy the drawbacks of previous theories which had attempted to define quality of life solely based on either objective (level of living) or subjective (subjective welfare) indicators. The theory of capabilities focuses more on the quality and the achievements of existence and not simply on the extent of wealth, while at the same time it suggests that quality of life cannot be confined to subjective evaluations, given the fact that these might reflect the individual s ability to enjoy his accomplishments in a manner resulting from processes of adaptation, aspiration and ambition (Vesan and Bizzotto, 2011: 5). The disadvantages of this approach emerge in the process of measurement. While some basic functionings such as health level, life expectance or literacy are easy to be measured, more composite functionings such as self-esteem and participation in the social and political life are very hard to quantify. Moreover, capabilities are not easy to evaluate either, given that they are not stable values, but change over time, influenced by cultural, economic, political, sociological and technological developments (Beham, Drobnič and Verwiebe, 2006:7). Subsequent approaches attempt more comprehensive and holistic definitions of quality of life, combining objective and subjective aspects. A quite typical example of such a holistic approach for the quality of life is Erik Allardt s (1993) version, which presents quality of life as dependent on three fundamental categories of needs: having, loving and being. The first one (having) refers to the material needs, which are used to evaluate the standard of living (income and wealth, housing conditions, employment and working conditions, health and education). The second category (loving) refers to the cultivation of social relationships, emotional bonds with friends, family, relatives and, in general terms, the need for easy access to social networks. The last category (being) refers to the need for inclusion and active participation in society, including participation in public decision-making, political activity, opportunities for a highquality working life, leisure activities etc. (Vesan and Bizzotto, 2011: 6). Allardt underlines the issue17.indd 7 23/6/ :43:04 πμ

8 [8] ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΟΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ importance of both subjective and objective assessments for a complete evaluation of quality of life and this is why he suggests various subjective and objective indicators for each of the above categories of needs (Noll, 2004:10). In the same spirit, Lane (1996) approaches quality of life as a process consisting of both subjective and objective elements. The subjective elements are: (a) Sense of well-being and (b) personal development and learning growth, both of them composing what he calls the quality of person skills and capabilities, beliefs and knowledge, feelings and evaluations. The objective element in Lane s theory is the enabling factor for the quality of living conditions, along with the opportunities available throughout the individual s life (Lane, 1996: 259). Concluding this brief overview, it should be noted that most of the aforementioned approaches, despite their partial divergence, have come to directly or indirectly develop an individualistic conceptualization of the quality of life (individual traits, capabilities, living conditions etc.) neglecting its purely social aspects (equality, freedom, solidarity etc.). In this context, over the past few years, theory has turned towards notions emphasizing on the social aspects of quality of life, such as the quality of societies, the allocation of affluence and social relationships. Common examples of such notions are: (a) social cohesion, accompanied by the emergence of the dichotomous problematic social exclusion social inclusion and (b) sustainability, which refers to the need to pursue a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable development, ensuring the establishment of a good society in the benefit of future generations (Noll, 2004:11). 1.3 Analysis of quality of life : Dimensions, indicators and related research From an overview of relevant literature, we can discern that, despite the plethora of different approaches to quality of life, there is a broad consensus regarding the definition of its basic dimensions (Stiglitz et al., 2009, Narayan, 2000, Ranis et al., 2006). As noted by Alkire (2010), most multi-dimensional approaches to human welfare and progress present striking similarities, at least on the level of certain general areas, which should be included in the empirical analysis, like healthcare, education, financial and personal security, social contacts and connections, political involvement, environmental conditions, subjective prosperity and use of time. Another core issue in the empirical analysis of quality of life is the choice of indicators. This choice usually depends on their availability at comparative level, on their reliability and on the kind of advantages they offer. The issues raised have to do with the choice between objective (standard of living approach) and subjective indicators (subjective well-being approach), between fixed (e.g. relative poverty indicator) and flexible (housewife s shopping basket) indicators and finally between static indicators (focusing on an individual s or a household s situation in a given time) or dynamic (focusing on changes in an individual s or a household s situation over time) indicators. In conclusion, a complete approach to quality of life should exceed such contradictions, since in reality, objective and subjective, stable and flexible, static and dynamic indicators are complementary, shedding light each one of its multiple aspects. In addition, the indicators used for the study of quality of life are subject to an ongoing review, reflecting new challenges and opportunities caused by the changing socio - economic conditions (Vesan and Bizzotto, 2011:14). issue17.indd 8 23/6/ :43:04 πμ

9 SOCIAL COHESION AND DEVELOPMENT [9] Finally, issues arising during empirical investigation of the quality of life have to do with the choice of level of analysis [micro (individual), meso- (family, community ), macro - (country, society )] (Beham, Drobnic and Verwiebe, 2006:11), the uneven quality of life between different social groups (Noll 2004), and the responsibility for safeguarding and improving the quality of life for the entire population (State, municipalities, third sector etc ) (Vesan and Bizzotto, 2011:21). In recent years, quality of life has emerged as one of the fundamental objectives of the European Union. Article 3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) determines that the Union s objective is to promote the well-being of its peoples, while Europe 2020 has prioritized the Man above anything else, aiming at more employment and a better quality of life and introducing quantitative goals for the reduction of poverty and social exclusion, for the promotion of education and employment (European Commission, 2010). This growing interest in a comprehensive mapping of quality of life is reflected in some recent international initiatives. Examples include the Eurofound survey on quality of life in the EU (European Quality of Life Survey), the update and enhancement of the Human Development Index as part of the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) containing data on quality of life, the conception of Better Life Index by the OECD, which revolves around 11 thematic areas pinpointing the locations of material living conditions and quality of life, the Gallup survey in OECD countries, the introduction of a short section on the quality of life in the survey of Income and Living Conditions (EU SILC) of Eurostat for 2013, the forming of the Commission for the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress Stiglitz-Sen-Fitousi etc. 1.4 The impact of the economic crisis on the quality of life In the last few years, European Union has been facing a rare combination of recession in multiple member-states, a decline in the level of income, austerity and general shortage in social transferences and services. These orchestrated negative effects undermine the quality of life of European citizens and produce considerable rifts between member states, threatening to incite a dangerous polarization within the EU. There are two databases that can provide a comprehensive and complementary source of information on the quality of life in the EU: (a) The European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), which is managed by Eurostat and provides comparable cross-sectional and longitudinal micro-data mainly pertaining to objective living and working conditions (e.g. income, poverty, material deprivation, social exclusion healthcare levels etc.) and (b) The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS), which primarily focuses on subjective indicators of the quality of life, in the areas of financial status 4, housing and local environment 5, family relationships 6, health 7, quality of society 8 and personal satisfaction (with life in general as well as with its individual sectors), happiness and expectation for the future. The two following sub-sections attempt to present, in a concise and indicative manner, the status of the quality of life in the EU under the influence of the economic crisis. Recent data from the EU-SILC (2011) have been used to outline the repercussions on the material conditions while corresponding EQLS data have been taken into account to evaluate repercussions on subjective well-being. issue17.indd 9 23/6/ :43:04 πμ

10 [10] ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΟΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ Impact on material living conditions Naturally, the most emphatic and measurable social impact of the crisis relates to the dramatic increase of unemployment and the ominous dimensions of poverty and social exclusion within the majority of EU countries. According to the latest official data, in 2011, 119,600,000 people in EU27, i.e. 24.2% of the total population, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion 9, compared to 23.4% in 2010 and 23.5% in Among them, 17% were at risk of actual poverty, 8.8% was struggling with severe material deprivation, reporting that their living conditions were confined by the lack of resources for example, they were unable to pay their bills, to keep their house adequately warm or correspond to unexpected expenses while 10% of the population in the age range between 0 and 59 lived in households with an extremely low work intensity (Chart 1) (SPC, 2013). Chart 1: The course of the AROPE indicator (At Risk of Poverty or social Exclusion) and of its composing elements in the EU throughout the years Unemployment figures are equally dramatic (Chart 2). The numbers of unemployed EU residents has once more started to rise within the past few months, reaching 26.2 million of unemployed people in January This represents an unemployment rate of 10.8%. According to the latest data from Eurostat, unemployment soared to a new record high of million (11%) in September 2013, showing an increase of 978,000 since September The steady rise of unemployment in EU since 2011 has in turn lead to a second wave of unemployment, with almost an additional 4.5 million people ousted from the labor force (+16.3%). Unemployment particularly affects young people, doubling its rates in their age group (23.5 %), which translates to million of unemployed youth. issue17.indd 10 23/6/ :43:04 πμ

11 SOCIAL COHESION AND DEVELOPMENT [11] Chart 2: The course of unemployment rates from January 2007 to January 2013 in EU27 Source: Eurostat, Labor Force Survey Impact on subjective well-being Research data on subjective well-being in Europe have confirmed the objective and measurable repercussions mentioned above. As for the conclusions of the European Quality of Life Surveys (EQLS), they indicate a rather intense deterioration in the financial situation of numerous European households, with more than one third of the respondents reporting that their financial situation is worse than it used to be twelve months earlier. The percentage of people reporting that they face difficulties to cope with their financial obligations has also increased. Life satisfaction levels are considerably lower, especially in those countries which demonstrated high percentages in the previous survey (2007), while happiness levels are lower in almost every surveyed country. The quality of healthcare services is also worse, especially for middle and lower incomes, while the issue of costs is emerging as a growing problem in healthcare services. Finally, it seems that the quality of society which constitutes a crucial factor of subjective well-being seems to be declining. The levels of trust in people are constantly dropping, especially within groups of people who are either unemployed or unable to work. Moreover, trust levels towards public institutions more particularly towards national governments and legislative bodies have greatly declined, probably reflecting people s skepticism towards their continued ineffectiveness against the financial crisis (EQLS 2012: 147). It is also worth noting that Research underlines that while the impact of the crisis are generally more emphatic on sensitive social groups, many seemingly privileged persons enjoying a good income, decent housing conditions etc. have also been facing considerable adversities in relation to their work, accumulated debts, keeping up with their mortgage etc. (EQLS 2012: 149) issue17.indd 11 23/6/ :43:05 πμ

12 [12] ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΟΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ 1.5 Impact of the economic crisis in Greece Impact on material living conditions Greece is one of those member states most greatly afflicted by the crisis, consequently inviting a rescue program from the EU and the IMF, which was gradually particularized into two Memoranda of Understanding and the Medium-term Fiscal Consolidation Framework, This supranational intervention has had a detrimental effect on the chronically vestigial and inadequate domestic social policy, brutally afflicting each and every one of its sectors, such as healthcare, social security, labor market and social welfare (Petmezidou, 2011, 2012, Matsaganis, 2011, 2012, Balourdos, 2011, Oikonomou, 2012, Sakellaropoulos, 2011, 2012). As noted by the Observatory of Economic and Social developments of the INE/GSEE, the onset of economic crisis along with the austerity measures which have been implemented since 2010 in Greece led to a dramatic deterioration of poverty indicators (Figure 3). Relative poverty rose from 19.7 % in 2008 to 23.1 % in 2011, with the largest increase occurring between 2010 and 2011, despite a significant reduction in the threshold of equivalent poverty from 549 euros in 2010 to just 476 euros in Poverty rates accrued by maintaining a fixed threshold in terms of actual spending capacity (based on 2007 revenues) are even more emphatic. According to this indicator poverty increased from 18.9 % in 2008 to 35.8 % in Chart 3. Poverty in crisis-hit Greece Source: INE / GSEE Observatory of Economic and Social developments Finally, a significant deterioration was recorded in the gap (or depth) of poverty, which increased from 24.1 % in 2008 to 29.9 % in This means that in 2011 one out of two poverty stricken citizens had an equivalent monthly income of less than 334 euros. It is also worth mentioning that the estimates for today s levels of poverty are particularly unfavorable, since the impact of the Memorandum on household incomes has been more prominent in the last two years (2012 and 2013) for which statistics are yet to be produced (INE / GSEE, 2013). The impact of the crisis on the Greek labor market was more catalytic than any other sector (Chart 4). From August 2010 until August 2013, unemployment rates have sky-rocketed from 12.8% to 27.3%. Since 2009, Greece has been increasingly deviating from the European average, resulting to an ever-growing gap. issue17.indd 12 23/6/ :43:05 πμ

13 SOCIAL COHESION AND DEVELOPMENT [13] Chart 4. Unemployment Rates in Greece and EU27, 2008:8 2013: ,5 27, , ,1 7,5 12,8 9,3 9,5 9,6 9,7 10,5 10, M M M M M M08 European Union (27 countries) Greece Source: Eurostat, Labor Force Survey [une rt m] According to latest data that were made available by ELSTAT, the number of unemployed people rose to 1,365,406 people in August 2013, increasing by 95,326 people compared to August 2012 (7.5% increase). Unemployment mainly affects the female population of the country, amounting to 31.4% (from 29.2 % in August 2012), while in men it is 24.3% (from 22.7 % in August 2012). In terms of age groups, unemployment is affecting young people of years rather dramatically (60.6 %); unemployment among people of the most productive age-range of years has also risen to 37.4% (from 33.1% since last count) (ELSTAT, 2013) Impact on subjective well-being Available research data focusing on subjective well-being portray an equally discouraging situation for our country. According to the latest survey on the quality of life in Europe, Greece finds itself among the lowest performing countries, in the majority of relevant indicators. It demonstrates the highest percentages of people along with Bulgaria and Cyprus who consider themselves socially excluded, the poorest subjective evaluation of public services, the greatest insecurity and adversity along with Cyprus and Latvia in the coalescence of labor and professional life, the highest rates of loneliness along with Bulgaria and Italy the lowest confidence in public institutions along with Bulgaria and Romania and the lowest optimism about the future (30%) along with Slovakia and Portugal (EQLS, 2012: 148). The above findings also confirm a series of other surveys, according to which: (a) 60% of Greeks report that they can hardly make ends meet, while 25% report that their daily lives have been deteriorated to the point of suffering, compared to a 7% in 2007 (Gallup 2011a) this figure being a gradually increasing high among all EU member states, (b) The percentage of Greeks reporting exceedingly high economic adversities has been increased by almost 21% compared to 2009, while there has also been an increase in cases of melancholy, symptoms of clinical depression, suicidal thoughts and self-reported suicide attempts (UMHRI, 2011) and (c) The confidence of Greeks in public institutions and especially in the Government has plummeted (Gallup, 2011b). issue17.indd 13 23/6/ :43:05 πμ

14 [14] ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΟΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ In this context, this research attempts to illuminate the impact of the crisis in some of the aforementioned aspects of the quality of life, in a small-scale qualitative empirical survey in the Municipality of Marousi, Attika. It attempts to incorporate some elements associated with certain objective conditions of living; however it is mainly concerned with subjective opinions, views and representations of the deep economic crisis which has plagued our country. Thus, this research aspires to become one more useful piece of relevant research (either quantitative or qualitative) to the puzzle of the economic crisis in the Greek society. The emerging image reveals that the economic crisis and the memoranda directives have inflicted serious damage not only to the flow of income and the material resources of the individuals and the households but also to their general quality of life, with severe repercussions on the density of social cohesion Survey Results 2.1 Survey Identity Among 127 survey interviewees, 78.7% were female and 20.5% w ere male. Categorized by age, 48% were between the ages of 31 and 49 the largest portion of the sample 21.3% were between the ages of 50 and 64, followed by a 15.7% over the age of 65 and a 15% between 18 and 30. The vast majority of the sample interviewees, i.e. 45.7%, are employed, 28.3% are retired, 16.5% are unemployed job seekers, 6.3% are homemakers, while 1.6% are rentiers and a small number (0.8%) are students. Among the employed portion of the survey interviewees, 76.7% have a standard job, 16.7% have an occasional job, while 6.7% are occupied in seasonal positions. As for the type of employment contract, 63.3% are regular employees under a permanent contract, 21.7% work under no contract, while 13.3% are employed under a temporary contract. Regarding their employment sector, 50.8% work in the public sector, 28.8% in the private sector, 8.5% are freelancers offering services, another 8.5% are self-employed, while 3.4% did not provide an answer. The general outline indicates that that the vast majority of respondents has a standard employment relationship, henceforth any data provided herein on the standards of living do not pertain to those outside the labor market but to those that are already inside it. Regarding the level of income, the following chart outlines the current status (Chart 1). We have middle to upper class households, with an income of 12,000 to 34,000 Euros per year. Chart 1: Total household income per year 34,001 or more 25,001-34,000 18,001-25,000 12,001-18,000 6,001-12,000 up to No Income na 5,5 3,1 3,9 14,2 13,4 18,1 20,5 21, issue17.indd 14 23/6/ :43:06 πμ

15 SOCIAL COHESION AND DEVELOPMENT [15] 2.2 Views on the ongoing crisis Based on the respondents answers, their main source of information, at a rate of 91.3%, is the media, which not only indicates their deep diffusion into the social tissue but also their potential to mould public opinions, tendencies and attitudes towards the issue in question. Friends and relatives are runners-up, with 74.0%, while 7.1% opt for alternative sources of information and 1.6% gets no information at all. The following chart (chart 2) is impressively revealing on the main causes of the crisis, according to the survey answers. Chart 2: Views on the causes of the crisis Policies accredited to the governments of the post-dictatorship era Our society itself, since we grew accustomed to consuming more than we could produce Global economic crisis 55,1 70,9 85,0 Financial EU policy 40,9 Adopting the EURO currency 23,6 na 2, We can see that 85.0% of the survey interviewees attribute the main burden of responsibility for the crisis to the overall role of the political system and more especially to post-dictatorship governments. On the other hand, another 70.9% think that the rise of living standards in the past years has been accompanied by an excessive tendency to consume, putting more blame onto it than the global crisis itself, which although still a primary cause of the crisis merely accumulated 55.1% of survey answers and was classified third among the originating factors of the current grim situation. Another 40.9% think that the economic policy of the EU is the main cause of the crisis, while 23.6% holds the conviction that the Euro currency breeds an inflexible context, hindering the management of the crisis. All in all, one could say that the crisis, according to the public s representation, is mostly attributed to national rather than external originators such as the global system or the EU. With regards to this conclusion, it is quite indicative that survey interviewees, 52.8% of them, designate their Municipality and its services as the most reliable institution for the management of the crisis, while the State itself only accumulates 50.4% of the answers. Family is viewed as a resort against the crisis by 48.0%, while church is a runner-up with 39.4%. It is therefore obvious that, on a macro-level, the State and the Municipality maintain their primary role in peoples expectations, whereas family and church play a similar role on a micro-level. These data should be interpreted in the light of the emotional state associated with the crisis. Relevantly, 88.1% of the survey interviewees admitted being exasperated and stressed issue17.indd 15 23/6/ :43:06 πμ

16 [16] ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΟΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ with the crisis, which indicates the unforeseen character of the current situation and its violent imposition. On the other hand, 84.1% are afflicted by insecurity and fear, which comes as no surprise, given the general uncertainty on both the macro and micro level of social activity. A feeling of anger is expressed by 75.4%, outlining the negative reaction of most respondents towards the looming crisis. The following charts are also essential when examining the interviewees s representations for the current situation, as they demonstrate in conjunction with the aforementioned data the tendencies of reaction on the micro-level of social relationships. The first of those charts (Chart 3) depicts the extent to which the trust in people in general has been influenced by the crisis. Chart 3. Degree of Trust NO 31,5% YES 47,2% na 20,5% MAYBE 0,8% It is rather obvious that 47.2% think that the crisis has undermined the level of trust in people. It is also noteworthy that this percentage mostly refers to middle-incomers and predominantly women. At the same time, as indicated by the next chart (Chart 4), 63.7% consider mutual help and altruistic support as the optimal countermeasures against this crisis of trust. It is rather indicative the fact that this was an answer which mostly prevailed among survey sub-categories dominated by unemployed individuals. Chart 4. Increase in mutual help. YES 63,7% NO 7,9% MAYBE 2,4% na 26,0% issue17.indd 16 23/6/ :43:06 πμ

17 SOCIAL COHESION AND DEVELOPMENT [17] 2.3 Access to financial resources material conditions of life The economic crisis greatly afflicts, as a consequence of the resulting recession, the material resources of the agents social reproduction, jeopardizing their feelings of security and certainty, which constituted the pillars of their everyday activity as well as their long-term planning for the future. Although survey members haven t lost their job, they are on the verge of a material deprivation which prospectively and potentially threatens to destabilize their financial security and social status. It is a process which overwhelms them and puts their social status at risk. In this context, our survey sought to investigate those dimensions of everyday life which collectively and in combination aggravate the financial situation of individuals and their households, procuring a foundation of uncertainty for the future. In this light, the following chart (Chart 5) is rather indicative of the trend of household expenses during the last 12 months of the crisis. Trend of Expenses Chart 5. Fluctuation of annual expenses by type. Water/Power supply, Telecommunications Care for dependents Heating Healthcare Private insurance Groceries -0,21 Education / Training -0,24 Rent 0,58 0,53 0,43 0,32 0,29 0,13-0,97 Clothing / Footwear -1,07 Travelling / Vacation -1,11 Entertainment / Recreation -2-1,5-1 -0,5 0 0,5 1 1,5 2 Observing the chart, we can discern that the agents have increased their spending solely in areas with minimal intervention margins. On the other hand, they have proceeded to undercut their expenses in areas where they maintained direct control over their expenses. Consequently, we can conclude that they are trying to reduce their expenses where possible, so they can cope with the rise in the prices of primary goods and services. Along with the above percentages, individual answers affirm this conclusion. For example, clothing and footwear expenses have been dramatically reduced, according to 43.3% of the respondents, expenses for entertainment and recreation (restaurants, cafeterias, bars, theaters, museums, cinema) have also been dramatically reduced according to 39.5% of the survey members, whereas 42.5% provided a similar answer with regards to travelling and vacation expenses. As for education and training expenses, 63.0% of the people replied that they have no such expenses at all. At the same time, expenses allocated to the care for dependents (elderly people, disabled children, pre-school children, chronically ill issue17.indd 17 23/6/ :43:06 πμ

18 [18] ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΟΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ etc.) have been lightly increased according to a 10.2% of the survey answers, along with private insurance expenses, which presented a slight upward trend. Similarly, healthcare expenses have also been on the rise for 18.9% of the respondents, underlining the curtailment of some relevant benefits and the clear prioritization of healthcare among the life-cycle s minor and major challenges. Clearly, primary expenses, such as water/electricity and telephone have greatly increased for 29.9% of survey interviewees, along with heating expenses for 32.2% of them. One could produce a more accurate explanation for those fluctuations in household expenses taking into account simultaneous changes in labor and household income. With regards to the first, the vast majority of the survey, i.e. 90.9% of male respondents and 79.2% of female respondents, reported that their earnings have decreased (81.4%), while their working hours appear unchanged (52.5%), albeit with a considerable tendency to increase (37.3%). These changes occur in standard jobs (76.3%) with the possibility of a dismissal being seemingly small (88.1%). As for the latter, the following chart (Chart 6) is quite illustrative: Chart 6. Sources of income Labour Pension Landed property revenues State benefits Financial support from another household Other na 20,6 11,9 4,8 2,4 0,8 44,4 63, Labor seems to be the main source of income for 63.5% of the respondents, 68.0% of whom are male and 63.0% female. A considerable number or survey members reported that their main source of income is their retirement benefit (44.4%), while the rest sources of income follow in a decreasing order. This is quite an important input in combination with the reported decrease in earnings, amounting to an overwhelming 93.6% who saw their total income decreasing. It is in this context of decreasing earnings and total income that we should attempt to explain one s difficulty to correspond to a series of financial obligations, as reflected in the following chart (Chart 7). issue17.indd 18 23/6/ :43:07 πμ

19 SOCIAL COHESION AND DEVELOPMENT [19] Chart 7. Grade of financial obligation fulfillment I have no such expenses I find it difficult making such expenses Groceries Water/power supply and telecommunications Taxes and special levies Clothing and footwear Healthcare Rent / Upkeep Loan installments and mortgages Home equipment Tuition fees 3,1 3,1 7,1 18,1 22,8 46, ,6 75,6 3,1 14,2 13,4 7,9 5,5 4,7 10,2 3,9 19, It is evident that the majority of respondents face some difficulty, especially when it comes to paying taxes and special levies, along with water, phone and electricity bills a result of the tax and general economic policy implemented on the country over the past few years. In order to cope with their obligations, 73.2% reported that they have altered their eating habits and, most importantly, 57.5% sought a second job, to make ends meet. To save some money, 44.9% changed their means of transportation, while 36.2% sought the financial support of their families or their close environment. With regards to this issue, the following chart is pretty indicative of the relevant tendencies (Chart 8). We can discern that the respondents have a relatively secure foundation for the fulfillment of their obligations, in combination with actions and initiatives which produce a surplus in the household. issue17.indd 19 23/6/ :43:07 πμ

20 [20] ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΥΝΟΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ Chart 8. Actions undertaken as a response to financial obligations Does not reflect my case YES Changed my eating habits 0,8 Sought financial support from friends and family 7,9 Started shopping from communal grocery stores 11,8 Sought help from humanitarian organizations 12,6 Participated in municipal and church common meals 13,4 Changed my means of transportation 14,2 Moved to another part of Greece, to find a job 16,5 Liquidated assets 16,5 Sought a job / an additional job 17,3 Sought healthcare benefits for uninsured people 18,9 Immigrated abroad, to find a job 19,7 Applied to the PPC for reduced power bill rates 19,7 Cancelled my automobile s license plates 30,7 Turned to cultivating family land 39,4 Moved to my parents house 46,5 Undercut some expenses or cancelled my private insurance 46,5 Pursued a loan settlement with the bank 50,4 Moved to a lower rent residence 60,6 Transferred my children from a private to a public school or day nursery 85, ,2 36,2 11,8 11,0 5,5 44,9 15,7 17,3 57,5 18,9 15,0 21,3 9,4 15,7 9,4 26,8 25,2 10,2 0, Impact on quality of life This survey portrayed a situation where households still maintain some standard of living, however at the expense of specific activities and previous habits. We can observe a consistent tendency driven by the situation itself to succumb to an imposed change of their pre-existing lifestyle. It is obvious that, although the crisis hasn t reduced the respondents to the level of marginal survival, it has urged them to a process of constant vigilance on necessary expenses and non-measurable aspects of everyday life. The combination of these two aspects is clearly undermining the social level of the subjects, who find themselves trapped in an overwhelming process which is upsetting their previous sense of a regular course of life. In this context, one of the most significant effects of the crisis pertains to the individual s unprecedented tendency to maintain control over everyday expenses. This is evident in the following chart (Chart 9), which emphatically portrays this effort in the area of social reproduction. issue17.indd 20 23/6/ :43:07 πμ