The Agora

MacroPolis
  • 4.8 (6)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Monthly

The Agora is a podcast created by the team behind MacroPolis. It’s a political and economic analysis website based in Athens. In this podcast series, we examine political, economic and social developments in Greece. But our podcasts will also look at what’s happening in the world around us. We provide listeners with insight from our own experts and analysis from special guests. If you enjoy intelligent, lively discussion and want the bigger picture, join us for a stroll through the Agora. To get an idea of the kind of insight we provide, check out The Agora blog, which has being going strong since 2013. Our theme music is a track called Straight Line Blues and has been kindly provided by the Burgundy Grapes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    Has Greece really recovered from the crisis?

    Greece has come a long way since the dark days of 2015, but has it fully recovered? In this episode of The Agora, Nick Malkoutzis speaks with Peter Sanfey and Dimitris Sourvanos, authors of the new Hellenic Observatory paper Out of the Abyss, to unpack Greece’s decade‑long journey from crisis to stability. Peter Sanfey is the Deputy Director for Country Economics, Strategy and Policy at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Dimitris Sourvanos is a Principal Political Counsellor at the EBRD. Drawing on their “10×10” benchmarking of Greece’s performance across ten socioeconomic dimensions, the discussion explores where the country has made real progress, and where deep structural gaps remain. From happiness and household confidence to governance, education, financial resilience, digitalisation and the green transition, this conversation goes beyond headline GDP figures to examine the lived reality of recovery. Is Greece converging with Europe? Why are businesses optimistic while households remain cautious? And what reforms will matter most in the decade ahead? A data‑rich, nuanced look at Greece’s post‑crisis trajectory, and what comes next. Useful reading Out of the abyss: has Greece fully recovered from the crisis? Sanfey, P. & Sourvanos, D. (2026). (GreeSE Papers 220). Hellenic Observatory, London School of Economics and Political Science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 9

    Party time: Greek politics in flux ahead of next elections

    Greece’s political landscape is shifting at remarkable speed. Alexis Tsipras’s new party, ELAS, has upended the opposition, destabilised SYRIZA, rattled PASOK, and pushed New Democracy into full campaign mode. With voters frustrated, trust low, and new actors entering the scene, the run‑up to the next elections is proving unusually volatile. In this episode, Nick Malkoutzis is joined by MacroPolis co‑founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou to unpack the major developments: – New Democracy’s stability‑focused messaging and internal anxieties – ELAS’s rapid rise and organisational build‑out – SYRIZA’s existential crisis – PASOK’s strategic confusion – The rise - and subsequent slide - of Maria Karystianou’s Elpida As Greece heads toward elections, which are expected later this year or next spring, the political system is entering a new phase of flux. Yiannis and Georgia help us make sense of what’s driving this moment and what we should expect next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jun 18

    Brain Drain or Brain Regain? Understanding Greece’s Talent Flows

    Greece says it is entering a new era of “brain regain”. Government programmes like Rebrain Greece are touring European capitals, employers are hiring, and the economy is finally growing again. But is the tide really turning? In this episode of The Agora, host Nick Malkoutzis digs into the data behind Greece’s talent flows, and finds a far more complicated picture. While official narratives highlight return migration, European surveys show the number of Greeks abroad is still rising, especially among university graduates. And the deeper, structural drivers of the brain drain remain stubbornly in place. To make sense of it all, we speak with Dr Elli Siapkidou, a UK‑based researcher who attended the recent Rebrain Greece event in London. She offers a first‑hand view of what these initiatives can achieve, and what they cannot. Is Greece truly reversing the brain drain, or simply reframing it? And what would real, evidence‑based “brain regain” actually require? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. May 7

    Shockwaves from the Gulf: What the Iran war means for Greece

    The war in Iran is sending economic and energy shockwaves far beyond the Middle East, and Greece is no exception. Rising oil and gas prices, renewed inflation pressures, and uncertainty in global energy markets are already shaping the country’s outlook. In this episode of The Agora, we break down how a conflict thousands of kilometres away is affecting Greece’s economy, energy security, and political decisions. MacroPolis co founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins us to assess the economic implications, from inflation risks to the government’s fiscal plans. Georgia Nakou, MacroPolis features editor and energy expert, explains how turbulence in global energy markets could impact Greece’s energy system and long term strategy. If you want to understand how international crises ripple into Greece - through prices, policy, and the energy system - we've got you covered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Mar 4

    Kaisariani photos: Why Greece’s past is present

    When a set of long‑lost photographs of the 1944 May Day executions of 200 Greeks by Nazi occupation forces suddenly surfaced on eBay in February, Greece was shaken. The images — the first ever to show the two hundred political prisoners, Communists, walking to their deaths at the Kaisariani shooting range in Athens — reopened a chapter of history that has never stopped shaping the country’s politics. With the help of our guest Professor Elias Dinas from the European University Institute in Florence, in this episode we explore why these photographs matter now: how they collide with decades of suppressed memory, why Kaisariani remains a defining symbol for the Greek Left, and what their reappearance reveals about the ongoing struggle over who gets to tell the story of the past. Useful reading Never-before-seen photos of Nazi executions in Greece surface on eBay – France24 ‘We can see that courage’: Greece recovers long-lost photos of Nazis’ May Day executions – The Guardian Man moved as photo of grandfather’s execution by Nazis surfaces - Kathimerini Message from the past, mirror for today - Kathimerini Kaisariani Execution: Three More Historic Photographs Surface – To Vima Photographs of 1944 Nazi Executions in Greece Declared Protected Monument – Dnews Cretan Man Recognizes His Grandfather in Kaisariani Execution Pics – To Vima Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Jan 30

    Walking a tightrope: Greece’s geopolitical balancing act

    Greece is navigating one of its most complex geopolitical moments in years — from tensions stretching across Venezuela, Greenland, Iran, and Ukraine to the high‑stakes energy diplomacy of the Vertical Corridor. With pressure mounting on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Athens is working to balance alliances, protect its credibility, and seize new economic openings. In this episode, host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by George Tzogopoulos, Senior Fellow at ELIAMEP and Director of EU–China Programs at the European Institute of Nice. George breaks down the strategic dilemmas shaping Greece’s foreign policy amid the uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump's global designs. Useful reading Athens navigates geopolitical whirlwind - Kathimerini Greece’s Vertical Corridor Heads to Washington After Athens Energy Summit - OT Trump’s erratic trade policy blamed for US gas auction flop in Eastern Europe - Politico Athens fears Turkish trap on Trump's peace board - Euractiv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. 12/17/2025

    Tax cuts and balancing acts: Greece’s 2026 budget

    Greece's 2026 budget was voted through Parliament on Tuesday, just ahead of the Christmas break. It contained some gifts for Greek taxpayers as it includes the tax cuts worth 1.2 billion euros that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had announced earlier in the year. But what else of note is in the budget? MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins host Nick Malkoutzis in The Agora to discuss the details of the economic plan. They take a closer look at the role of investments and Greece's broader economic story as it heads into the New Year. Useful reading Greek parliament approves 2026 budget amid protests - Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. 11/20/2025

    Main character energy: Greece vies for leading fossil fuel role

    Greece is trying to secure a central role in the global energy game. In this episode of *The Agora*, we explore how a flurry of recent deals is positioning the country as a key player in the transatlantic energy landscape. From the launch of the Vertical Corridor - linking U.S. LNG to Ukraine via Greece - to offshore drilling in the Ionian Sea and the revival of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) with Cyprus, the stakes are high but the ambitions seem to be even higher. Is this a strategic masterstroke or a risky bet? Host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by MacroPolis energy expert Georgia Nakou to unpack the geopolitical, environmental and domestic implications of Greece’s energy pivot. We examine whether Greece can balance power and principle in its new starring role. Useful reading Ionian Sea gas exploration deal a ‘vote of confidence’ - Kathimerini Greece signs first long-term deal to supply Europe with US LNG - Reuters Athens and Kyiv sign LNG deal as Greece adopts US energy agenda - Politico Greece: Offshore gas instead of green energy projects? - Deutsche Welle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

The Agora is a podcast created by the team behind MacroPolis. It’s a political and economic analysis website based in Athens. In this podcast series, we examine political, economic and social developments in Greece. But our podcasts will also look at what’s happening in the world around us. We provide listeners with insight from our own experts and analysis from special guests. If you enjoy intelligent, lively discussion and want the bigger picture, join us for a stroll through the Agora. To get an idea of the kind of insight we provide, check out The Agora blog, which has being going strong since 2013. Our theme music is a track called Straight Line Blues and has been kindly provided by the Burgundy Grapes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    MacroPolis
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MacroPolis
  • Show Website
    The Agora