The impact of Greece’s downturn

The ongoing economic meltdown in Greece is threatening the financial health of Europe and could send ripples around the world.

Violent protests have rocked Greece after its government announced major spending cuts to address its financial crisis.

At least three people were killed during demonstrations against the austerity measures.

The Greek finance minister says the only way to prevent total economic collapse is to accept a bailout package of more than $140bn from the European Union and the IMF.

But that money is contingent on Greece implementing the austerity programme. The parliament has already approved some of those proposals that raise taxes and slash pensions and public sector bonuses.

The main conservative opposition leader has criticised the austerity policies as being too harsh.

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As Greece struggles to deal with the crisis, experts say it could have a domino effect on several countries across Europe.

On Monday’s Riz Khan we ask: To what extent could the meltdown in Greece affect the global financial health?

Joining the show will be Dr. Yannis Papantoniou, the former Greek finance minister, who was main architect of the country’s economic reforms in the late 1990s, Dr. Alexander Mirtchev, the president of the Washington, DC-based consultancy Krull Corporation which specialises in new economic trends and business strategies.

We will also be joined by economist Mark Weisbrot, the co-director of the US-based Center for Economic and Policy Research, a non-partisan think tank that promotes debate on important economic issues.

Anand Naidoo sits in for Riz Khan.

This episode of the Riz Khan show aired from Monday, May 10, 2010.