Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
Can it be done? It may seem silly to try to put a whole continent through a branding exercise. But the beleaguered Greeks are already having this conversation. And I think there's an opportunity for Greece to recast itself as a place where people who can't find opportunity are leaving (as they are in Spain!) and people who can find opportunity should come.
My rebranding scheme for Greece won't work unless at least some of us who don't live there already decide to make a go of it. In fact, the possible pool of immigrants to Greece has to be dramatically narrowed for cultural and political reasons. What Greece needs is more talented Westerners -- their creativity, their money, and, frankly, their lack of any of the nationalist feelings that have caused so many Greeks to flatter themselves with a profligate, bloated, and corrupt government.
Would any of us actually consider moving to Greece? Under what circumstances? Do we think a critical mass of expats could actually change the political culture from the ground up?
Some of these same issues apply to Europe as a whole. I don't know the numbers on the productivity and mobility of immigrants to Europe, but it seems important to ask what Europe has to do to attract robust numbers of economically dynamic immigrants who also won't cause the social fabric to strain to the breaking point. Because right now Europe seems to need all the help it can get. Rebranding may not be a perfect way to grapple with the problem, but it's way better than nothing.
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Aug '10
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
There was only one Patrick Leigh Fermor, and as long and productive as his life was, there was only so much the guy could do.
May '10
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
Expats can make an enormous difference -- look at Hong Kong or Singapore -- but the necessary condition is a place that is conducive to doing business. Unfortunately this requires minimum of red tape and bureaucracy and friendliness to foreign investment. It means that wages have to reflect reality and not be in competition with state benefits. A certain amount of corruption can be tolerated but I'm betting the current scale of corruption may be too extreme.
If you mean are there enough rich people who want to buy property in Greece and hang out spending their money? Maybe, but you need to end the strikes.
I'm not holding my breath for either of those scenarios.
Do you have a dog in this fight Kirios Poulos?
Mar '11
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
Ah so that's the problem with Greece, a poor brand with a lackluster advertising campaign. Perhaps we can put EJhill on this.
Jul '11
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
It will not work as long as the socialist mentality permeates that society. The biggest favor we can do for the world is to have these countries fail and make it known why. So an influx of brains, money, and motivation as you describe will help save Greece but socialism will doom it in the long run. My friend's brother is a hematologist there and about to start a 1300 dollar a month job, he will be leaving when he can. Socialism delenda est.
Mar '11
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
Rebranding Greece is like rebranding a Yugo. Marketing doesn't fix the problems underneath.
I think that, by now, Greece is so far gone that the only thing that could possibly motivate them to change for the better is fear that a weakened Greece is being eyed hungrily by a growing and confident Turkey again.
Mar '11
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
"Greece: Come for the history, climate, and culture. Stay for the anarchists rioting for more government."
Apr '11
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
A nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to start a business there.
May '10
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
Now that is a slogan that EJ can surely work with...
Jan '12
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
Greece has the slipperiest government ever.
Re: Can Greece Rebrand Itself? Can Europe?
Trace Urdan
Now that is a slogan that EJ can surely work with... · May 4 at 10:49am
And now, we get to ask: can Hollande work with it?