The ceremony was honored by the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Konstantinos An. Tasoulas.

Ceremony

The Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, opened the event, followed by greetings from the Dean of the School of Economics and Political Sciences, Professor Nikolaos Hreotis.

Former Department Chair, Professor Stylianos Kotsios, spoke about the honoree’s contribution to the Department of Economics, while Professor Evangelia Papapetrou presented Professor Stournaras’ scientific and broader work. The honorary volume was presented by the current Chair of the Department, Professor Georgios Dotsis.

The honorary volume was handed to Mr. Stournaras by the Rector of the University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.

Mr. Yannis Stournaras then delivered a lecture entitled “The Disruptions in Global Economic Balances, the Eurozone, and the Greek Economy.”

The event

The ceremony, attended by a large number of academics, institutional representatives, and colleagues of the honoree, highlighted the University of Athens’ enduring commitment to recognizing excellence and contributions to economic thought and policy.

Mr. Yannis Stournaras, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Economics at the University of Athens, has served as Governor of the Bank of Greece and as a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. His long-standing contributions to academic research, economic policy design, and public administration inspired the decision to publish this honorary volume.

Rector’s Address

In his address, Rector Professor Gerasimos Siasos stated:

“Today’s ceremony honors a scholar who has left an indelible mark, both on the University and on the public life of our country.
Yannis Stournaras, a graduate of the University of Athens, joined the Department of Economics in 1989 as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor in 1994, and to Full Professor in 2001, a position he held until his retirement in August 2024.

Throughout his academic career, he taught extensively at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels — including courses such as Macroeconomic Theory, Economic Policy Theory, and International Macroeconomics — and supervised numerous doctoral dissertations.
His extensive work, characterized by academic excellence, deep scientific knowledge, and international recognition, has decisively advanced key areas of economic theory: applied macroeconomics, optimal taxation theory, public debt dynamics, and monetary policy.
His publications in prestigious international journals attest to his scientific influence and global recognition.
Over his 35 years at the University of Athens, colleagues and students alike have shown profound respect and admiration for his personality, which has made him beloved across the academic community.”

“Yannis Stournaras combines exemplary academic achievement with the practical exercise of economic and monetary policy and the reform of the banking sector, having served in leading positions of responsibility — as Minister of Finance, Governor of the Bank of Greece, and member of the ECB Governing Council — playing a decisive role in addressing Greece’s economic crisis. His unwavering integrity, determination, and effectiveness were crucial for stabilizing the Greek economy and restoring the country’s credibility in international markets.”

Speech by Yannis Stournaras

Mr. Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece and Emeritus Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, expressed his gratitude:

“I thank the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, and my dear colleagues from the Department of Economics for the great honor they have bestowed upon me this evening, and for their deeply moving words.
I feel grateful and fortunate to have combined academic teaching and research with service to my country and to Europe. […]”

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He then delivered a comprehensive lecture analyzing current global economic transformations, the challenges and opportunities facing the eurozone, and the prospects for the Greek economy within a rapidly changing international and technological landscape.