The Greek government has proposed a new child savings policy that could provide young Greeks with up to €60,000 by the age of 18. But in a country where most households struggle to save, who will actually benefit?
For To Vima International Edition, Senior Editor Kristina Tremonti speaks with Professor Michael Sherraden of Washington University in St. Louis, a pioneer of Child Development Accounts and one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people. His research has helped shape child savings policies around the world, and he has advised the governments of the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Singapore and Kazakhstan.
Sherraden examines the risks of linking public contributions to parental savings, the importance of automatic enrolment, and whether government investment should prioritise children from lower-income families.
He also sets out his recommendations for Greece, arguing that policy should focus not just on encouraging savings, but on building assets, expanding opportunity and making sure public money does not reinforce economic inequality. At the heart of the conversation: does the policy, as designed, give every child a genuine financial head start, whatever their parents’ income?
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