Who is to blame and what is to blame

In the last decade, during Greece's debt crisis, there was a lingering question: Who is to blame for this crisis that we were experiencing? In every conversation, even on festive occasions, there was the search for the culprits. I remember a marathon discussion I had with a shop-owner friend about the economic crisis. "OK, you were also tax evading for many years," I reprimanded him in anger. "And whose fault is that?" he asked. "Whose?" I asked. "The state's because it didn't audit me," he replied smugly.

Yes, it was an unprecedented crisis. We were all somewhat confused and were looking for explanations, especially the most convenient ones. But, one of the reasons that the economic crisis lasted as long as it did in Greece (compared to other European countries that were also bailed out) is that the debate focused on who is to blame and not on what is to blame.

We...