Catalonia’s sovereignty plan leads nowhere
MADRID | Catalonia’s economy might head for rough times as investors flee from political uncertainty and the danger extremists might take over. CiU leader Artur Mas is heading for disaster.
Catalonia
Catalans fail to grasp there’s no free lunch
The region is determined to be recognised, and treated, as a nation. Sadly, Catalans appear incapable of shouldering the bill that comes attached to it.
How much is Catalonia owed?
How much does ‘different identity’ account in fiscal transfers between regions and their central government? Catalan president Artur Mas mixes tax data with sentimental issues and accusations of mistreatment, says Fernando G. Urbaneja, so a necessary dialogue becomes unnecessarily difficult.
Madrid-Barcelona doors still wide open
Something happened Friday September 28. Catalonia sold €2 billion in bonds and Spain’s Treasury minister announced that the regions rescue fund is now open for business to provide capital aid to Barcelona. The central government has a strong case to deactivate the Catalan conflict while reassuring markets with a restructuring plan of the state’s administration.
It’s the Catalan economy, stupid!
While national identity tensions belong to an ongoing debate, the fiscal irritation that Catalonia feels can be easily soothed. Madrid must offer a fairer treatment to a region whose economic output sets the best hopes for Spain to exit the crisis.
Independence challenges: English temperance versus Spanish passion
MADRID | Whereas London has gone to battle in the Scottish independence referendum, Madrid would rather focus on the dire situation of the state finances and a looming rescue when challenged by Catalan independentists. Carlos Díaz Guell believes the Spanish government has no spare strength to spend.
Barcelona challenges Madrid
The Catalonian regional government has filed a request for help warning Madrid it will not accept any condition linked to such rescue. For a Cabinet in desperate need of cash to keep running its services, the flat refusal to take on board any tip seems a bit reckless. But it has a trump card in its bid to soften Madrid resistance. It is threatening to trigger a full fledged confrontation…
Catalan external balance goes foreign
The implications of recent developments in Catalonia's export activity are bound to agitate the political scene of the region more than its economic stand, which remains at a deficit of around €15 billion. According to the statistics institute of the autonomous government, the Generalitat, Catalan exports to non-Spanish markets in 2011 were higher for the first time than those to Spain: the regional department for the Economy said the international trade percentage…
Foreign tourists in Spain spend 8.1% more than in 2010
The amount of money spent by international tourists visiting Spain from January to November 2011 was €49.985 billion, that is 8.1% more than last year according to figures reported in the Survey of Tourist Expenditures (Egatur) of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce. The average expenditure per tourist stood at €929 in the first eleven months, 0.2% more than during the same period in 2010, while average daily spending…
Spain’s regional adjustments begin in Catalonia and the Basque Country
