A hesitant evolution: industrialisation and de-industrialisation in Greece over the long run

The paper is an attempt to examine the idiosyncratic unfolding of Greek industrialisation and de-industrialisation from a long-run perspective (1867-1994). Following stylized facts, it is shown that the main shifts in the Greek economy occurred outside industry (from agriculture to services). Also, industrialization was a hesitant process evolving slowly and reaching a plateau in 1950-73. Three structural continuities that accompanied this progress have been a large state sector, the commercial character of Greek entrepreneurship and the incomplete transition from a mercantile/family to corporate capitalism. Also, a rising share of manufacturing in GDP related consistently with increasing per capita income, improving trade performance and ‘trading up’ efforts within manufacturing.