Technological progress and industrialisation, and the consequent fall in demand for labour, brought about the continuation of emigration until the 1970s; as a result, for some years there even was a decline in Macedonia's population.
Another problem that had become evident since the 1950s involved tobacco exports, as the oriental varieties grown in Greek-Macedonia were gradually ousted from the world market by American ones. Tobacco has now been supplanted by other produce, such as fruit, as the region's main export.
Thus, despite a substantial increase in agricultural production, the development of industry and services -- particularly after Greece's entry in the EEC in 1981 -- transformed the country's economy, especially that of Greek-Macedonia, which now acquired the characteristics of the economy of Western Europe.
Since 1991, however, the on-going Yugoslav crisis has disrupted land communications between Greece and Western Europe, posing serious problems for Greek-Macedonia's exports.
Breakdown of the Gross Domestic Product
1913-1974
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See Also
