Why can't Greece control the government's expenses?

Since 2010, the Troika has been providing Greece with loans in exchange for tax hikes and spending cuts. Rich European nations ... But since then, this debt has been consolidated in the hands of rich European governments, greatly reducing the risk of a financial crisis if Greece defaults. read more

On the first, just because you want to "control your expenses" doesn't mean that you can stop paying things like your mortgage/rent, phone bill, or the like. read more

Greece: Government revenue and spending from 2012 to 2022 (in billion euros) This statistic shows the government revenue and spending in Greece from 2012 to 2016, with projections up until 2022. In 2016, the government revenue in Greece amounted to around 87.93 billion euros, while government spending came to around 86.24 billion euros. read more

Greece's government last week missed a critical debt payment to the International Monetary Fund, and its banks have been forced to close. And on Sunday, Greeks voted, by a surprisingly large margin, to reject the European austerity demands that would have meant more financial relief for Greece. read more