The Economist Names Greece ‘Country of the Year’ for 2023

British weekly The Economist has named Greece “Country of the Year” for 2023 for its resilience in what it described as a difficult year full of conflicts and war, autocratic regimes and limited freedoms.

 The decision comes after The Economist staff looked for the “place that has improved the most… for a bright spot in a bleak world”. And that “leaves the winner, Greece”, which managed after years of painful reforms and restructuring to top the annual ranking of rich-world economies in 2023.

“A few years ago, who would have expected that Greece would be named The Economist’s country of the year? Yet this is exactly what has happened. A recognition of the Greek people’s efforts, our continuing reforms and our country’s progress,” said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis commenting on the news.

The report goes on to add that today Greece is far from perfect, citing the fatal train crash in February in Tempi which exposed corruption and lagging infrastructure; a wire-tapping scandal and the mistreatment of migrants.

A few years ago, who would have expected that Greece would be named @TheEconomist’s country of the year? Yet this is exactly what has happened. A recognition of the Greek people’s efforts, our continuing reforms and our country’s progress. https://t.co/coLfKanjoX

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) December 20, 2023

The report, which also named Brazil, Poland and Ukraine as countries performing well among others, concluded that Greece had demonstrated that “from the verge of collapse it is possible to enact tough, sensible economic reforms, rebuild the social contract, exhibit restrained patriotism – and still win elections”.