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Articles by Joan Tapia

About the Author

Joan Tapia
Former editor of La Vanguardia, El Noticiero Universal and Spanish public TV channel in Catalonia, Joan Tapia also advised the Minister of Economy and Finance of Spain’s first Socialist Government. One of the country’s most veteran journalists, Mr Tapia also holds a Law degree and founded La Caixa’s Information and External Relations Department. He is a regular columnist for some media outlets both in Catalan and Spanish, and a member of the Royal Academy of Economic and Financial Sciences.
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Spanish economy 25th December 2014

Spanish economy is improving despite a growing political malaise

BARCELONA | By Joan Tapia | Last month, I warned about the serious political problem in Spain, which was (and is) focused on the Catalonian crisis and the rise of the new political party Podemos. Both could disrupt the political system and kill off imperfect bipartisanship. Meanwhile, the economy was starting to show some signs of improvement. In November, the perception that the economy is improving while politics are worsening has increased and multiplied. It is difficult to argue with the fact that the economy is going better than last year.

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In Europe 10th October 2014

Spanish domestic demand grows along with external deficit

BARCELONA | By Joan Tapia | The Spanish economy has come out of recession and citizens have begun to  notice, encouraged by a slight increase in employment creation (albeit temporary, part-time and minimum wage employment, but it at least entails an increase in those joining the workforce). Thus, the CIS’ Economic Confidence Indicator –which ranges from 0 and 100, recorded a low 35.7 (although it represents a 16% increase with respect to 2013). For its part, the Consumer Confidence indicator –which is different and ranges from 0 and 200- is at 89.3, 22% higher than the data from September 2013. The trend appears to point to an awakening of domestic demand.

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In Europe 13th May 2014

Spanish recovery glass only half-full

BARCELONA | Joan Tapia| That the Spanish economy grew by 0.4% quarterly in the 1Q14, and by 0.6% yearly is a real green shoot. After several years of recession, GDP is to grow moderately, around 1% in year 2014. However, employment continued falling by 184,000 people, at an annual pace of 0.5%. A slap in the face for those who told the recovery was more intense than expected.

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In Europe, Spanish economy 16th April 2014

Spain: Optimism, ma non troppo

BARCELONA | By Joan Tapia | Optimism over Spanish recovery should be refined. The so much discussed but effective economic management of Spain’s government is not well transferred to political confidence. As citizens place their political confidence at 29.5 points against 29.9 points of trust in the economy,  businessmen have gone in terms of political confidence from a poor 2.16 to another poor 2.33.

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Spanish economy 13th February 2014

Spanish recovery: PM Rajoy fights to sell optimism in electoral year

BARCELONA | By Joan Tapia | Markit analysts point out the positive impact of the wage reductions that increase the competitiveness of Spanish products and help export. If Europe pulls the cord – as the PMI show- the economy could accelerate in the coming months. The Government exaggerates these data (reforms, foreign capitals inflow, and European growth) to underline that the economy will create jobs in 2014 while other analysts – more independent or from other political areas – show more caution.

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Spanish economy 21st February 2012

When president Rajoy makes decisions

By Joan Tàpia | At the end of 2011 and after taking office, Mariano Rajoy’s government made its first decision: a €15 billion budget adjustment which implied that increasing taxes, especially personal income taxes, was essential –something he said he would never do. During the election campaign, the PP also assured that it would not lower the cost of dismissal. Now, the law-decree of February 11 does precisely this and takes…