Sarantis Lolos

Energy consumption and economic growth: assessing the evidence from Greece

Abstract This paper attempts to shed light into the empirical relationship between energy consumption and economic growth, for Greece (1960–1996) employing the vector error-correction model estimation. The vector specification includes energy consumption, real GDP and price developments, the latter taken to represent a measure of economic efficiency. The empirical evidence suggests that there is a long-run relationship between the three variables, supporting the endogeneity of energy consumption and real output. These findings have important policy implications, since the adoption of suitable structural policies aiming at improving economic efficiency can induce energy conservation without impeding economic growth.

Assessing competitive conditions in the Greek banking system

Abstract This paper uses the Rosse-Panzar statistic to assess empirically competitive conditions in the Greek banking system over the period 1993–1995. The competitiveness of the banking system is evaluated using a non-structural estimation technique. The results indicate that bank revenues were earned as if under conditions of monopolistic competition. The gradual elimination of exchange controls, the capital movement liberalisation, the enactment of the Second Banking Directive of the European Union and the supervisory arrangements have been related to the competitive conditions of the Greek banking system.

The performance of the Greek banking system in view of the EMU: results from a non-parametric approach

Abstract This paper estimates economic efficiency, TFP change, and technical change of the Greek banking system over the period 1993–1998. The beginning of the examination period coincides with the acceleration of liberalization and deregulation of the Greek financial system, in view of the country joining the EMU. The study uses Data Envelopment Analysis to measure technical and allocative efficiency. Also, productivity change is computed using the Malmquist Total Factor Productivity approach and is composed of technical and efficiency changes. The results show that the majority of the Greek banks operate close to best market practices, while allocative inefficiency costs seem to be more important than technical inefficiency costs. Also, the positive but not substantial TFP change of the Greek banking system is associated to efficiency improvement for the medium-sized banks and to technical change improvement for larger institutions.

Efficiency of the Greek banking system in view of the EMU: a heteroscedastic stochastic frontier approach

Abstract The paper estimates empirically cost efficiency of the Greek banking system for the period 1993–1998. The beginning of the examination period coincides with the acceleration of liberalization and deregulation of the Greek financial system, in view of the country joining the EMU. The study uses a multi-input, multi-output technology and adopts a heteroscedastic frontier model instead of a commonly used homoscedastic one to measure cost efficiency in the banking system. The empirical results show that larger banks are less efficient than smaller ones. Also, it is found that economic performance, bank loans and investments are positive related to the cost efficiency of the Greek commercial banking sector.

Economic Growth, Labour Effort and Fertility Choice in Greece: Evidence and Implications for Economic Integration

Many economists believe there is a relationship between family behaviour and economic growth. According to Becker (1988), ‘family behaviour is active, not passive, and endogenous, not exogenous. Families have large effects on the economy, and evolution of the economy greatly changes the structure and decisions of families.’