The fiscal crisis and the social wage in Southern Europe Focus on Greece Focus on Greece Compare the fiscal structure of Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and EU-15 for Compare the fiscal structure of Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and EU-15 for Class aspects of fiscal crisis: Estimate the net social wage (ratio) in Greece and other Southern European countries (Are workers/social policy responsible for the recent economic crisis, the public deficits and the accumulation of public debt in recent years?) Class aspects of fiscal crisis: Estimate the net social wage (ratio) in Greece and other Southern European countries (Are workers/social policy responsible for the recent economic crisis, the public deficits and the accumulation of public debt in recent years?) Is there a distinct “Southern European welfare state model”? Is there a distinct “Southern European welfare state model”?

Public expenditures, taxes and budget deficits as a percentage of GDP in Greece and EU15 ( ) Expenditures- Revenues – Deficit ( ) EU15GREECEDIF 1. Government expenditures / GDP Government revenues / GDP Budget deficit / GDP Public expenditures / GDP ( ) 4. Government employee compensation/ GDP Education expenditures as a percentage of GDP Health expenditures as a percentage of GDP Social protection expenditures / GDP Interest payments / GDP General public expenditures / GDP Defense expenditures / GDP

Public expenditures, taxes and budget deficits as a percentage of GDP in Greece and EU15 ( ) (continued) Public expenditures, taxes and budget deficits as a percentage of GDP in Greece and EU15 ( ) (continued)EU15GREECEDIF Expenditures-Revenues–Deficit ( ) 1. Government expenditures / GDP Government revenues / GDP Budget deficit / GDP Taxation / GDP ( ) 11. Total receipts from taxes and social contributions/GDP Total tax receipts/ GDP Total (actual and imputed) social contributions /GDP Current taxes on income, wealth, etc./ GDP Taxes on income / GDP Taxes on individual or household income including holding gains / GDP Taxes on the income or profits of corporations including holding gains / GDP n.a Taxes on production and imports / GDP

Summary of the fiscal structure comparison between Greece and EU Greek public expenditures slightly less (1.8%) than in EU-15 on average Greek public expenditures slightly less (1.8%) than in EU-15 on average State revenues much lower (6.0%) State revenues much lower (6.0%) Hence, average annual public deficits (6.5%) in Greece Hence, average annual public deficits (6.5%) in Greece Wages of state workers the same as in EU Wages of state workers the same as in EU “Welfare state” spending (health, education, social security) less in Greece “Welfare state” spending (health, education, social security) less in Greece Defense, general services, interest (= annual deficit) much higher in Greece Defense, general services, interest (= annual deficit) much higher in Greece Taxes on income (of non-workers) and tax rates on profits of corporations much less in Greece Taxes on income (of non-workers) and tax rates on profits of corporations much less in Greece

Public Education expenditures/GDP Greece and EU

Public health expenditures as a percentage of GDP, Greece and EU-15,

Corporate taxes/GDP average selected EU countries

Expenditures- Revenues – Deficit EU15 Portug al ItalySpainFrance 1. Government expenditures / GDP Government revenues / GDP Budget deficit / GDP Public expend/GDP ( ) 4. Government employee compensation Education expenditures Health expenditures Social protection expenditures Interest payments General public expenditures Defense expenditures Public expenditures, taxes and budget deficits as a percentage of GDP in France Spain Portugal Italy and EU15 ( )

EU15PortugalItalySpainFrance Taxation / GDP ( ) 11. Total receipts from taxes and social contributions Total tax receipts Total (actual and imputed) social contributions Current taxes on income, wealth, etc Taxes on income Taxes on individual or household income including holding gains Taxes on the income or profits of corporations including holding gains n.a Taxes on production and imports Table 1: Public expenditures, taxes and budget deficits as a percentage of GDP in France Spain Portugal Italy and EU15 ( ) (continued)

Fiscal structure Greece, Portugal and Spain spend less than the EU average, Italy more, France much more Greece, Portugal and Spain spend less than the EU average, Italy more, France much more Greece, Portugal and Spain collect much less than the EU average in revenues, Italy the average, France much more Greece, Portugal and Spain collect much less than the EU average in revenues, Italy the average, France much more Inadequate state revenues the reason for public deficits in Greece, Portugal and Spain Inadequate state revenues the reason for public deficits in Greece, Portugal and Spain Greece, Portugal and Spain lag behind European averages for total and almost all individual tax categories, and Italy is close to those averages. Taxation in France is based heavily on indirect taxes (which offset the lighter taxation on household income and profits bringing tax revenues equal to the EU average) and much higher than average social security contributions Greece, Portugal and Spain lag behind European averages for total and almost all individual tax categories, and Italy is close to those averages. Taxation in France is based heavily on indirect taxes (which offset the lighter taxation on household income and profits bringing tax revenues equal to the EU average) and much higher than average social security contributions France spends more for wages of public workers, social security and social welfare, Greece and Italy spend more for interest on public debt France spends more for wages of public workers, social security and social welfare, Greece and Italy spend more for interest on public debt

Net social wage as the indicator of the class character of the state budget Radical/Marxist Political economy: Who pays for social spending (directed at workers?) Radical/Marxist Political economy: Who pays for social spending (directed at workers?) a) Workers themselves b) capital (profits) or c) public budget deficits? Examine if net social wage is positive or negative and its impact on labor discipline productivity labor discipline productivity (post fiscal) distribution – profitability – accumulation of capital and growth (post fiscal) distribution – profitability – accumulation of capital and growth Mainstream economics: “welfare programs may lead to cumulative deficits and mounting public debts” (Dreze and Malinvaud, 1994, p. 95) Mainstream economics: “welfare programs may lead to cumulative deficits and mounting public debts” (Dreze and Malinvaud, 1994, p. 95)

Table 5: Net Social Wage Definitions =========================================== ========= Net Social Wage = Labor Benefits – Labor Taxes Net Social Wage = Labor Benefits – Labor Taxes nsw = lb – lt Benefit Ratio = Labor Benefits / GDP Benefit Ratio = Labor Benefits / GDP Lbr = lb / GDP (ec) Tax Ratio = Labor Taxes / GDP Tax Ratio = Labor Taxes / GDP Ltr = lt /GDP (ec) Net Social Wage Ratio = Net Social Wage / GDP or Net Social Wage Ratio = Net Social Wage / GDP or = Net Social Wage / Employee Compensation nswr = nsw / GDP = Lbr - Ltr nswr = nsw / GDP = Lbr - Ltror nswr = nsw / ec nswr = nsw / ec ========================================= ======== ========================================= ========

Allocation of benefits from state expenditures to workers Categories of Public expenditures classified by economic function Labor benefits Α. Public Consumption 1. General Public Services Defense Public Order and Safety Education Labor Share = workers/total employment 5. Health Labor Share 6. Social Security and Welfare Labor Share 7. Housing and Community Services Labor Share 8. Recreation, Culture and Religion Labor Share 9. Economic Services Other Functions Labor Share

Allocation of benefits from state expenditures to workers (cont’d) B. Subsidies Subsidies to firms C. Current transfers to households 1. Pensions 100% or Labor share 2. Unemployment Compensation 100% 3. Family allowances 100% or Labor share 4. Sickness allowances 100% or Labor share 5. Welfare transfers 100% D. Public Investment 1. General Public services Defense Housing Labor share Ε. Property income paid Interest Rent

Allocation of taxes to wage laborers Tax Categories Labor taxes 1. Personal Income Tax Labor Share 2. Local Government Taxes Labor Share 3. Corporate Income Taxes Social Security Contributions (of workers) 100% (or L.S.) 5. Payroll Taxes 100% 6. Property Taxes Capital taxes Indirect Business Taxes (Consumption Taxes)* Labor Share = wages / personal consumption 9.Other Taxes Labor Share

Labor benefit ratio and labor tax ratio

The net social wage ratio (nswr) in Greece,

The net social wage ratio (nswr) in Greece,

Public Debt / GDP

Public Deficits / GDP

Public Debt / Public Revenues

Labor Benefit ratios

Labor Tax ratios

Net social wage ratios

Lbr – Ltr = nswr GreeceSpainPortugalItalyFrance Labor benefit ratio Labor tax ratio Net social wage ratio

Net social wage ratio in selected countries CountryAverage Net social wage ratio (nsw/GDP) USA ( ) UK ( ) New Zealand ( ) Canada ( ) France Italy Portugal Spain Greece ( ) Greece ( )

Average values for net social wage ratio, budget deficit and interest paid on public debt as a percentage of GDP, GreeceSpainFranceItaly Portug al Public deficit/GDP Interest paid/GDP Net social wage ratio (Public deficit – net tax on labor) / GDP

Changes in the net social wage ratio = (nsw / gdp) and in the wage share = (w / gdp) Wageshare = (w / gdp) +- Net social + (a) + + (b) + - wage rate = (nsw / gdp) (nsw / gdp)- (c) - + (d) - -

net social wage ratio and wage share, Greece

Public debt/GDP Greece