Role

KEPE was founded in 1959 and is the largest institute for economic research in Greece. It operates as private legal entity under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

During its 65 years of operation, KEPE:

  • Conducts independent research on issues of direct interest to the Greek economy.
  • Has played a central role in economic planning, pioneering the coordination, preparation and evaluation of multi-year national, regional and European development programmes.
  • Supports the design and assessment of economic policies, conducting policy studies and reports from a macroeconomic, sectoral or regional perspective.
  • Follows closely developments in key areas, such as public finance, international trade, the labor market, education, health and social policies.
  • Holds scientific expertise in the study of important productive sectors, such as primary production, industry, tourism, transport, energy and the financial sector.
  • Is an active publisher of scientific studies, reports, journals and bulletins, having issued over 700 publications, the majority of which are available with free access through its website and its own Repository of Economic Content “Oeconomicus”.
  • Operates a specialised economic research library, holding a rich collection of books, journals and other publications and offering significant contribution to the support of economic research in Greece.
In recent years, within the framework of all the above activities, KEPE:
  • Maintains a leading role in research and economic policy support in Greece, publishing scientific papers and preparing policy reports on behalf of national, European and international bodies.
  • Acts as the country’s National Productivity Board and publishes the Greek National Productivity Report Annual Report.
  • Monitors the international economic environment and domestic economic conditions, providing GDP forecasts, indicators, and analyses of developments in key economic sectors and current economic issues.
  • Contributes to the planning, monitoring and assessment of structural reforms in Greece, and operates a Reforms Observatory.
  • Assists the Greek state in the process of setting the minimum wage and, in the framework of the relevant consultation process, prepares the annual report on the “Evaluation of the current statutory minimum wage and daily wage”, as well as the Consultation Conclusions in cooperation with a five-member committee of experts.
The research staff of KEPE are experts, mainly economists, holding PhD degrees.