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In the past two years, the fate of Greece has been at the epicentre of economic news almost all over the world. After the Mediterranean country was "rescued" with the financial support of the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission, things got worse instead of getting better. Like Pandora's Box, fiscal consolidation measures and the need for structural reforms brought to light all the accumulated changes in the old economic model of Greece. After a year and a half of sufferings, the country has come to the brink and GRReporter asked its readers the key question, "What will happen to Greece by the end of 2011?"

The most popular response on the trilingual site GRReporter is that "Nothing will happen" to the Greeks, who, like in the story of the shepherd, always get off with a whole skin, despite the incredible mess they get into. One third of the Bulgarian readers are deeply sceptical about the idea that the economic crisis will bring dramatic consequences for Greece. This view is shared by 23% of the readers of our English site. However, our Greek readers are the most convinced about the lack of truly deep shocks. Almost 40% of them believe that nothing will happen before the end of this year, although the economist known as Dr. Doom, Nouriel Roubini, does not stop blaring forth that Greece is the new Lehmann Brothers for the world economy.

The second most popular answer, with a slight difference in the percentages, is "the sixth tranche will not be paid" (11% of the Bulgarian site, 13% of the English and 19% of the Greek site readers) and "the country will officially declare bankruptcy" (17 % of the Bulgarian site, 12% of the English and 16% of the Greek site visitors). 9% of the Bulgarians, 8% of the English-speaking audience and 7% of the Greeks believe that "there will be a new government" by the end of 2011. The combination of the collapse of the socialist government, the official bankruptcy of Greece and the end of the financial aid by the Troika is the most tragic scenario that seems real to a relatively small number of our readers. On the Bulgarian site, 15% of the respondents have voted for it, 14% in the English version and 11% in the Greek.

Hope is the last to die and this lies in the response that by the end of 2011, the Greeks will realize their duties and "society will pull itself together and carry out the necessary reforms." The percentage varies between 8% - 12% and this definitely shows that the option is not ranked high in the list of possible developments of the Greek problem. The option "the country will leave the euro area" is the most pessimistic of those previously mentioned. Only 3% of our Greek readers, 7% of the Bulgarian and 11% of the English-speaking visitors to our site are of this opinion.

Overall, the prospects for the Greek economy are not rosy, but this does not prevent many readers from believing that Greece is not in any great danger. Now, we would like to invite you to take part in the new GRReporter poll "Where are the trade unions taking Greece?"