It also took Germany 90 years to pay of its WWI debts.......

With Greece we are dealing with a country which operates on the basis of corruption, nepotism and cronyism and which, by all accounts, lacks the administrative systems prevalent in 'northern' europe. Greece was, for centuries, part of the Ottoman Empire and is consequently in many respects more of a middle-eastern than a european state. We 'north' europeans tend to regard Greece through the eyes of the Romantic Movement (Goethe, Byron et al) and only know are we beginning to realise that this view is an illusion. Reform implies reformable systems. and if such are not available...........?

Reintroducing the drachma may not necessarily be a good idea. There would be a massive devaluation which, whilst making greek exports cheaper, will make imported goods, in many cases basics, prohibitively expensive. In any case, what has Greece got to export? Olives and olive oil? They are not going to rescue the country and in any case with Italy, Spain and Portugal there's plenty of competition in that sector.

Two economists, three opinions...............