Tag: Fourth Corner Exchange

Inside the Greek (and Spanish) parallel economy: glimpses of Social Revolution…

Quiet, unassuming social revolution is often the successful step-sibling of the more confrontational (often failing) variety. Across the southern rim of Europe, where austerity and insurrection goes hand-in-hand, parallel economies are taking over daily life, particularly in Spain and Greece.

Here we focus on what is happening in one part of Greece, in the town of Volos, and also provide a reprise on what is happening with the parallel economy in Spain generally. Take Volos: in the market no customers are carrying money – they have none.

But they are buying food and other essentials – not on credit, but via their own currency. With this currency they buy clothes, electrical appliances and foodstuffs. People are happy. They help each other. In a strange way, this is utopia.

And all this in a country that has a failed economy and is the butt of jokes across (northern) Europe. So who’s laughing now? Continue reading “Glimpses of Social Revolution… Greece and Spain”