[BITList] Euro-economics explained

[John Feltham]

ITALY & GREECE - Euro-economics explained...

Some years ago a small rural town in Italy twinned with a similar town in Greece.

The Mayor of the Greek first visited the Italian town. The Italian mayor hosted him.  He was impressed not so with the hospitality as with the mayor’s mansion. That curiosity led him to ask how he managed to build such a grand place.

The Italian said; "You see that bridge over there?   The EU gave us a grant to build a two-lane bridge.   I thought about it then built a single lane bridge with traffic lights at either end. The money saved helped build this house".

The following year the Italian returned the visit to the Greek town. He was simply amazed at the Greek Mayor's house.   It looked like the Parthenon. Corinthian columns, mosaic floors, marble staircases, chandeliers, gold taps, the lot.

When he asked how this could be afforded the Greek pointed blankly outside and said, "You see that bridge over there?"

The Italian replied; "No."