# Greeks  faked the economic data they needed in order to join the euro currency

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greeks-faked-the-economic-data-they-needed-in-order-to-join-the-euro-currency/478465>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 23, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greeks-faked-the-economic-data-they-needed-in-order-to-join-the-euro-currency/478465 "2008-12-23T23:26:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greeks-faked-the-economic-data-they-needed-in-order-to-join-the-euro-currency/478465/1 "2008-12-23T23:26:07Z")

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That claim is [made in this article](http://www.slate.com/id/2207290/)but I’m not having much luck googling up any evidence or discussion of this claim. Any cites or sources appreciated.

> [@](#):
>
> On the domestic front, the Greeks are best known for having faked the economic data they needed in order to join the euro currency.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greeks-faked-the-economic-data-they-needed-in-order-to-join-the-euro-currency/478465/2 "2008-12-24T01:48:07Z")

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I found this: [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-125624191.html](http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-125624191.html)

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greeks-faked-the-economic-data-they-needed-in-order-to-join-the-euro-currency/478465/3 "2008-12-24T03:42:17Z")

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I blame the military: [http://www.prothman.org/marge/travels/GreeceIsrealRome/Images/HolyLandAthensGuards.jpg](http://www.prothman.org/marge/travels/GreeceIsrealRome/Images/HolyLandAthensGuards.jpg)

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**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greeks-faked-the-economic-data-they-needed-in-order-to-join-the-euro-currency/478465/4 "2008-12-24T04:30:02Z")

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> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> I blame the military: [http://www.prothman.org/marge/travels/GreeceIsrealRome/Images/HolyLandAthensGuards.jpg](http://www.prothman.org/marge/travels/GreeceIsrealRome/Images/HolyLandAthensGuards.jpg)

What, you’re not intimidated by guards wearing miniskirts and clown shoes?