It's not that it will make them more competitive. It allows purchasing power variability between countries. EUR7,000 will buy a VW whether you are Greek or German. If Greece is on the Drachma, then as their currency devalues every year against the EUR the price of the VW goes up. The Greeks can print more Dr to pay themselves more, inflation takes hold, it becomes cheaper to go to Greece on holiday so more go - this is how it always worked in the sixties, seventies and eighties with all the PIGS. And that is precisely why the Euro was never going to work.
In Athens in '88, place was full of cars up to 35 years old. New cars were a rarity. The people in the islands were friendly and relaxed, and didn't do more than they had to. Great lifestyle! Stop trying to make them like the Germans, or the Scots! It should be bloody obvious that this would never, ever work.
