As Greek debt approaches 200 percent of GDP, unemployment and social unrest continue to rise and the possibility of another round of defaults hangs in the balance, it becomes more and more apparent that underneath the tax evasion, corruption and uncompetitive business climate lies a culture that is perpetuating the economic crisis. That is not to say that Greeks are not hard working, or that most of them spend time marching in the streets and burning down the Christmas tree in Syntagma Square. However, in countless business and personal interactions with Greeks, some common themes emerge.

First, and perhaps most importantly, is the lack of a ‘win-win’ philosophy. The belief that someone is continually taking advantage of you permeates personal and business relationships in Greece, effectively stopping any win-win scenario in its tracks. In line with that thinking, in order not to be taken advantage of, your goal must first be to take advantage of the other person, or business partner. In Greece, life is a zero-sum game.

For the full text of this article see November 15, 2012 RealClearWorld.