Book excerpt: Ever since Greece's 1974 transition to democracy there has been constant talk of reforms. Major changes in its economy, society, and polity have attempted to bring Greek institutions and policies in line with more developed West European countries. Some reforms have come to fruition, others have recurred over the years, while others have been spasmodic and elusive. This book sets out the background to Greece's current political and economic crisis, examining its three decades of stop-start reforms and their political and institutional consequences.