On the occasion of two articles published by the Centre for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) regarding the wages, salaries and purchasing power of Greek citizens and especially families with children, the Ministry of Economy and Finance stresses the following:

First, over the last five years, the minimum and average wages in Greece have increased more than prices. In particular, between 2019 and 2023, the Consumer Price Index has cumulatively increased by 13.4%.

In the same period, based on data from the ERGANI information system, the average wage has increased by 20.2%, while the minimum wage has increased by 27.7% since 2019 to date.

Second, over the last five years, real per capita income has increased in Greece at a rate significantly higher than the European average. According to Eurostat data, between 2019 and 2023, real per capita income in Greece has increased by 7.7%, more than double the EU average (3.3%) and almost three times the euro area average (2.3%).

At the same time, over the past five years, the government has implemented a series of tax cuts and positive interventions for Greek households, always in the context of fiscal responsibility.

Indicatively, the introduction and significant strengthening of the birth allowance, the increase of the tax-free allowance for families with children by 1. 000 for each child, the extension of maternity leave and paternity leave, the increase in the income limits of the heating allowance, the introduction of a social electricity tariff for large families, the reform of the public sector payroll with an increase in the family allowance, the increase in vouchers for crèches, the extension of the school meals programme, etc.

As a result of the above, net disposable income in Greece has increased for all types of households.

In particular, again based on Eurostat data, from 2019 to 2023, annual net disposable income in purchasing power units has increased between 12.3% and 15.7%, depending on the type and composition of the household. In terms of purchasing power, these earnings in 2023 are ranked 16th in the EU-27 for three of the four main benchmark categories and 19th in the fourth.

Particularly with regard to workers paid the minimum wage, Greece is in the middle of the distribution, since out of 22 Member States with a statutory minimum wage, Greece is in 11th place in nominal terms (i.e. in euros), while in terms of purchasing power, Greece is in 12th place.

Consequently, the claim that the standard of living in Greece is in penultimate place in the European Union is far from reality. Data from Eurostat on actual individual consumption also support this.

It is clear that Greece has become neither Switzerland nor Sweden. And the above is not to celebrate or, even more so, to underestimate the real difficulties that many of our fellow citizens are facing.

What is presented, however, is the real picture, which confirms the significant progress that our country has achieved over the last five years and is primarily the achievement of Greek citizens.

We are continuing on the same path of progress, reforms and convergence with the European average, which is the only one that has been proven to produce positive results in terms of social justice.