The Grecian question

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Greece must exit euro for its own good, says leading German economist

Do you think Athens should drop the euro?

Yes! Greece should absolutely ditch the EU and the euro. It cannot recover and neither can the other countries save it . The EU idea is busted, and it is only a matter of time before other countries start to pull out, including the UK. -- Clive, UK

Because currency devaluation is an easy way to cut government expenses and bring in tourism, one of the main revenues of Greece, it would help if they returned to the drachma. It would also be good if there were renewed border controls in Europe to prevent human and other smuggling and for improved security. Removing border controls was a big mistake, that they should reverse as soon as possible. There was too much of a push to expand the euro and the EU powers beyond what was realistic and it will damage the whole project by going too far, too fast. -- Philip, Canada

Yes - or at the very least, return to the drachma. -- Michael, Greece

The Swiss already know that to join the euro ultimately leads to a country's financial suicide. Greece is the first country to suffer this fate - others are bound to follow. -- Alphonse, Switzerland

Dropping the euro will not help Greece beyond a very temporary export benefit. Greece must root out the corruption and develop a diverse economy. Simply chasing after exports by devaluing the drachma, is a disaster for the Greeks who hold drachma, and will make imported, finished goods and services and raw materials with which to manufacture exports, more expensive. -- Charles, UK

Yes, Greece should abandon the euro. The Greeks need to work but they also need to eat, and that will only be possible if they go back to their own currency, devalue it and become competitive once again. It will also create the necessary jobs and avoid a potential civil war. Incidentally Spain should do the same. The euro is a dead commodity (it was never a currency, but a commodity.) How can Spain be able to repay their debt? Or Portugal, or Ireland? Worst of all Spain has 5 million unemployed! The euro is dead! -- Javier, Spain

So it's an exit from eurozone or exodus (emigration) from Europe? The sooner they exit the eurozone - the better! It'll force bank restructuring in the banking sector in Bulgaria, which is inevitable in the next two to three years. -- Krasimir, Bulgaria

From Facebook:

The speculators keep gambling and betting against Greek insolvency. It is in their interest that Greece should be out of the eurozone. Their beloved CDs will earn them terrific profit. Keep speculating highly corrupt vulture funds. I'm not saying Greece's situation is their fault. Greek governments and voters are to be blamed. Yet the worsening of the already bad situation is definitely their fault. -- Fotis

Well I don't agree wholeheartedly with this article. On the one hand Germans are entitled to be upset because Greece, Portugal and Spain need to work harder and have more fiscal discipline. On the other hand, this crisis is the aftermath of the irresponsible investments done by the global banking system, so Greece is not to blame in its entirety. One should also remember that France and Germany have had their history of fiscal deficits too, so let us not blame everything on the Greeks. I think every EU country should tighten their belts a bit as well, otherwise the EU is doomed to fail. -- Carlos

Compiled by Stuart Tiffen
Editor: Nicole Goebel