Spain | GPN

Spain
In 2004, the Spanish economy experienced steady growth of 2.7% which surpassed its European neighbors. However, the economy has yet to make up for losses suffered in the early part of the 21st century. On factor slowing growth is a growing commercial deficit up 35.8% over the previous year. During 2004, exports grew by 5%, but imports grew by 11.5%. There is reason for concern about Spain’s future economic growth as spending on research and development dropped in the last decade and Spain lags behind other OECD countries in internet usage. Unemployment is still high at 10.4% but is improved over 11.2% of the previous year. Spain is one of the few countries where unionization rates have increased over past two decades. Unions are playing an increasingly important role under the new Socialist Party government. A meeting in June 2004 of leaders of government, union federations and business associations pledged to pay attention to:

Education and training
Infrastructure and public investment
Research, development and innovation
Industrial and environmental policy

To read a detailed labor market analysis for Spain, download one of the following:
Adobe Acrobat [.pdf] [size 270 kb]
Microsoft Word [.doc] [size 256 kb]
Para leer (en español) un análisis detallado de la situación laboral en España, selecto uno de los reportes para transferencia directa:
Adobe Acrobat [.pdf] [size 168 kb]
Microsoft Word [.doc] [size 274 kb]
For economic statistics on Spain, download one of the following:
Adobe Acrobat [.pdf] [size 43 kb]
Microsoft Excel [.xls] [size 191 kb]

Source:
Universitat Pompeu Fabra —
Javier Astudillo
Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 08005, Barcelona, Spain
Tel: (34) 93 542 24 78
javier.astudillo@cpis.upf.es
http://www.upf.es/

Update posted: March 17, 2005.

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