▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁ ▁St ath ak is ▁graduated ▁from ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Ath ens ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁with ▁degree ▁in ▁econom ics . ▁He ▁continued ▁his ▁studies , ▁gradu ating ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁with ▁a ▁Master ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁econom ics , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁with ▁a ▁Doctor ate ▁in ▁econom ics , ▁both ▁from ▁New castle ▁University . ▁His ▁doctor al ▁th esis ▁was ▁titled : ▁" Ind ust rial ▁Development ▁and ▁the ▁Regional ▁Problem : ▁The ▁Case ▁of ▁Greece ". ▁ ▁Academ ic ▁career ▁ ▁St ath ak is ▁worked ▁at ▁the ▁Mediter rane an ▁Studies ▁Foundation ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁and ▁at ▁the ▁Computer ▁Technology ▁Institute ▁in ▁Pat ras ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 7 . ▁From ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁he ▁worked ▁as ▁a ▁visit ing ▁research er ▁at ▁the ▁Center ▁for ▁By z antine ▁and ▁Modern ▁Greek ▁Studies , ▁Queens ▁College , ▁City ▁University ▁of ▁New ▁York , ▁and ▁as ▁a ▁visit ing ▁scholar ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁at ▁the ▁Center ▁for ▁European ▁Studies , ▁Harvard ▁University . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁he ▁joined ▁the ▁staff ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Cre te ▁as ▁a ▁lect urer . ▁He ▁became ▁an ▁associate ▁professor ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9