O Wall Street Journal fez ontem uma análise ao comportamento de Portugal nos últimos anos, a propósito de um novo relatório da Heritage Foundation. Chamou-lhe “Portugal’s Lost Decade“. Título pertinente para um texto que, sem nos trazer (a nós, portugueses) grandes novidades, mostra como os nossos problemas estruturais são percebidos (e bem) lá fora.

O passado: 

«Even before the global financial crisis took hold in 2008, Portugal had endured a miserable economic period. Far from catching up with the wealthier parts of Europe, it was falling further behind.» 

O presente:

«At some point, Portugal was going to have to grapple with its too-high wages and too-low productivity. But by waiting until the global recession forced the hard decisions, Portugal’s leaders hurt their chances for a successful adjustment.» 

«Growth returned to Portugal in 2013, but the country’s low productivity and budget woes are still unresolved. Most recently, the country’s highest court blocked an attempt to lower public-sector pay–exactly the type of reform that is necessary for Portugal to escape its decade-long slump.»