Personality

64% of Bulgarians believe that next year will be a year of economic difficulties, according to a global Gallup International survey.

A third analysis of the data was planned and expressed optimism about the results

Once again there was an abundance of praise from the international media on Greece's management of the coronavirus public health crisis.

The image of marbles shining in the sun, to borrow the words of the poet, and of packed beaches emitted a strong signal of optimism about a swift return to normalcy and reminded the world of the Greek success story.

With the curve of the number of Covid-19 cases remaining at a relatively manageable gradient, the government believes it has reason to be cautiously optimistic that Greece is on course to win the battle if the restrictions in place continue to be observed.

The country has been put on ice, yet there are those who couldn't care less. People who flout the law either out of a lack of discipline or to turn a profit should be severely punished.

The newly sworn-in President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoullou, has chosen to communicate with Greek citizens through a Facebook post on the need to observe the preventive measures taken against the spread of the coronavirus.

End-of-the-year reports indicate that the Greek economy is moving in the right direction. Poll figures, representing the view of the man on the street, reports from institutions such as the European Central Bank, representing the views of the experts, and lower rates for Greek government bonds, representing the views of the market, agree: Greece is changing course.

Maybe it is because we are so accustomed to division and dysfunction that whenever a Greek does well abroad, or whenever our politicians, state machinery or institutions get something right, we break free of our malaise and are overwhelmed by joy and optimism.

Businesspeople in Greece appeared much more optimistic in the latter half of 2019 about the next 12 months, though this optimism was not reflected in earnings or sales, let alone salaries.

Every third Bulgarian expects a better 2020 than the previous, 2019. These numbers are according to a poll conducted by the Gallup International poll agency.

Globally, Bulgaria is close to the average of optimism. However, when it comes to personal happiness, we are still in the extreme places of the charts, sociologists comment.