Young Greeks Changed Their Degree Choices as the Economy Crashed

The Greek financial crisis has been one of the most severe in the developed world since 1929. Its effects on education have been real and biting.

Students protest against educational reform, lack of teachers, and layoffs of administrative staff, in front of the Greek parliament, in Athens, on Nov. 6, 2014. Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images

The Greek financial crisis has been one of the most severe in the developed world since 1929. Its effects on education have been real and biting. Public spending on education in Greece has been reduced by 40 percent and more than 100 schools have been closed since 2009 as well as some universities.

The overall uncertainty about the future of the country has had catastrophic consequences on all sectors of the economy but also on the educational decisions of young Greeks. My research has found that, in the face of tighter budget constraints, college students are changing their minds about what to study.

The overall uncertainty about the future of Greece has had catastrophic consequences on all sectors of the economy but also on the educational decisions of young Greeks.