A tale of two Cypriate economies the Greek one collapsed, the Turkish prospering, For such a tiny country, Cyprus and its failing banks have created an awfully big economic, financial and geopolitical mess for European bankers and government officials. The island nation – with land mass and economy smaller than Vermont – was bracing Sunday for the looming collapse of its banking system and economy, as scores of officials from Brussels to Nicosia spent the weekend scrambling to avert the crisis.