Greece a civil service laggard

Greece ranks fourth from last among the European Union’s 28 member-states in the efficiency of its civil service, according to a survey by the Center for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE), which describes state efficiency as a decisive factor when it comes to investors placing their money in a country. Cyprus is fifth from the top.

The survey assesses the public sector’s efficiency in four main indices. The first concerns the level of corruption, the protection of rights and the independence of justice. In this list Greece is fourth from bottom in the EU, above only Italy, Croatia and Romania.

The second index looks at stability, determined by the level of unemployment and inflation as well as the ratio of state spending to consumption by total public expenditure. Greece is second to last, above Spain.

Another index concerns infrastructure, gauging air transport, and mobile phone and landline subscribers and Internet users per 100 citizens. Greece ranks high in this category, sharing 11th spot with Slovenia.

Saving grace

The final index is education, depending on the number of people in higher education and spending on education as a percentage of gross domestic product. Greece ranks joint first in this index, along with Spain, Estonia, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden.