Here the star economists, there the political class

Both J. Sachs and HW Sinn overlook the considerable political gain that Germany and the Troika are making by enforcing their austerity dictates: in Germany and among the other advocates of the hard line, the threat of Greece is an excellent means of applying pressure to reject "excessive" wage demands. The demands of train drivers, daycare workers, pilots and parcel delivery workers can be pushed back in this way. In addition, the supply of workers in the low-wage sector is increased by the push for additional Greek workers. Capital accumulation and an increase in the rate of profit, the actual goals of capitalist economics, are made easier. Austerity enforced across Europe is the rationale of our economic and social system. Therefore, the political decisions on the Greek crisis do not conflict with economic objectives.