A miracle that’s full of holes

The small Aegean island of Antiparos is in a fever of preparations for the summer's tourism miracle. The magnitude and type of construction activity (villas with swimming pools etc) point to a massive accumulation of wealth. But the only true measure of wealth is being able to have household help, either because they're brought in from Athens or because they're paid all year around so they can be available for a few months during the holidays. Otherwise, the cost of having your house cleaned can come to as much as 40 euros per hour.

Something similar is going on at businesses - retailers and bars/cafe/restaurants - where staff shortages are a huge problem. The challenge remains even when employers offer decent lodgings and wages. That's why the local "oligarchs" like to say that anyone who has "hands" - staff, that is - is bound to make money, because demand for services is...