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©
2010 International Monetary Fund
May 2010IMF Country Report No. 10/110
Greece: Staff Report on Request for Stand-By Arrangement
The following documents have been released and are included in this package:
 
The staff report, prepared by a staff team of the IMF, following discussions that ended onMay 9, 2010 with the officials of the Greece on economic developments and policies. Basedon information available at the time of these discussions, the staff report was completed onMay 5, 2010. The views expressed in the staff report are those of the staff team and do notnecessarily reflect the views of the Executive Board of the IMF.
 
A Press Release summarizing the views of the Executive Board as expressed during its May9, 2010 discussion of the staff report for Greece
 
A statement by the Executive Director for GreeceThe document(s) listed below will be separately released.Letter of Intent sent to the IMF by the authorities of Greece*Technical Memorandum of Understanding*Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies*Letter of Intent and Memorandum of Understanding on Specific EconomicPolicy Conditionality (European Commission and European Central Bank)*Assessment of the Risks to the Fund and the Fund’s Liquidity PositionPress Release
*Also included in Staff Report
 The policy of publication of staff reports and other documents allows for the deletion of market-sensitiveinformation.
Copies of this report are available to the public fromInternational Monetary Fund
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International Monetary Fund
 
Washington, D.C.
 
 
DMSDR1S-4184960-v1-Greece SR.DOC May 10, 2010 (4:59 PM)
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDGREECE
Request for Stand-By Arrangement
Prepared by the European Department in Consultation with Other DepartmentsApproved by Poul M. Thomsen and Martin MuhleisenMay 5, 2010
Executive SummaryBackground:
 
The Greek economy is teetering due to heavy public debt and loss of market access.
 
The structural fissure is in weak competitiveness—inflation has consistently out-paced the euroaverage.
 
The dual challenge of undertaking very large fiscal adjustment and simultaneously achievinginternal devaluation is bound to limit growth for a protracted period, weighing in turn on the banking system.
 
Banks entered the crisis with sound liquidity and solvency indicators, but sovereign downgradingdragged them down, and the recession and uncertainty are causing distress.
Main elements of the program:
 
Greece is adopting an ambitious comprehensive multi-year adjustment program to lower the fiscaldeficit and the debt ratio, reduce domestic demand in line with capacity, and increase supply andcompetitiveness so that the economy can step onto a higher growth path led by investments andexports.
 
In the attached letter, the authorities request a 3-year Stand-By Arrangement under the exceptionalaccess policy and the emergency financing mechanism for €30 billion (SDR 26.4 billion or 3,212 percent of quota) with an initial purchase of €5.5 billion (SDR4.8 billion) available upon Boardapproval. The euro-zone partner countries are prepared to commit €80 billion with a firstdisbursement of €14.5 billion. It is an extraordinary international support effort for what needs to be an extraordinary Greek adjustment effort.
 
Fiscal policy is frontloaded with measures of 7½ percent of GDP in 2010, 4 percent of GDP in2011, and 2 percent of GDP in 2012 and 2013, each, to turn around the fiscal position and help place the debt ratio on a downward path. Measures are identified up to 2013. The fiscal deficit istargeted to drop below 3 percent of GDP by 2014, and the debt-ratio would peak at 149 percent of GDP in 2013.
 
The program includes provisions to shield low-income households from the brunt of theadjustment effort, including exempting those living on the minimum from the reductions in wagesand pensions, and social expenditures will provide the safety net for the most vulnerable.
 
Banking problems could intensify, which would magnify fiscal risks. Therefore, a FinancialStability Fund (backed by the international financing package) will be established to ensureadequate capitalization of the banking system. Liquidity pressures would be met, including withECB support.
 
Coordination with the European Commission (EC) and the European Central Bank (ECB) on program implementation and financing will be crucial to the success of the program.
 
Risks to the program are high. The adjustment needs are unprecedented and will take time, sofatigue could set in. Any unforeseen shock could weigh on the economy and the banking systemeven if the fiscal program is on track. Greece needs to persevere to ensure continued internationalsupport.
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