the article was not talking about immigration. It was talking about the demographic problems of europe. The oly point it made about immigration is that while short term it alleviates the problem, long term the immigrants are going to face the same problems Europeans face child wise, especially if the social explanation (inflexible marital norms) holds. The unwillingness of men to help in the rearing of the children in more traditional societies, means that working women, as well as stay at home moms have a de-incentive to make many children. Again if it holds (I buy it suffice to say, from examples here in the U.S, were parents who are both willing to help in child rearing have 3 to 8 children on average). The new generation of academics especailly is rather child rich.

Greece needs immigrants in very large numbers — although there may be problems associated with their legal status, but mainly caused by Greek stupidity and arrogance.

I think you’re being slightly unfair ^. The UK needs immigrants to run the NHS, build the 2012 Olympics, pick the lettuces, care for the elderly in care homes, and for many similar reasons that Greece needs them. But the UK and every EU country is deporting ILLEGAL immigrants just like Greece but you seem to be suggesting that only Greece is guilty of being arrogant and stupid in this regard….hypocrite….

And this situation is not specific to Greece: all of Europe has exactly the same situation. In Germany, the pension system has been propped up for 20 years by immigrants.

When people know these facts, they might begin to understand why this racist mentality that Greeks are now showing is so ridiculous. Greece needs immigrants in very large numbers — although there may be problems associated with their legal status, but mainly caused by Greek stupidity and arrogance.