One in three young people in Greece aged between 18 and 24 wants to leave the country due to its financial problems.
This year’s European Consumer Payment Report, conducted by Swedish company Intrum Justitia, showed that 32 percent of school leavers would rather seek a better life in another country, as the unemployment rate in that age group amounts to 49 percent.
Even more worrying is the finding that just 41 percent of young Greeks – the lowest rate among the 21 European countries where the survey was conducted – believe they have a chance of improving their lives. The average rate in Europe is 67 percent.
Last year the rate of young people who wanted to leave had been much higher, at 53 percent. The decline does not necessarily mean they think things have improved in Greece, as the report notes: They may not have the money to relocate to another country or are so disappointed – as the survey’s other findings show – that they think they do not stand any chance of improving their finances or their lives in general.
“This could be the first time in modern history a generation enjoys fewer economic opportunities than their parents,” said Intrum Justitia head Erik Forsberg.
Source: Kathimerini