Political Economy Of The Spanish Miracle

The so-called ‘Spanish miracle’, beginning in the mid-1990s, eventually became a nightmare for the majority of the population, culminating in the present-day economic and political crisis. This book explores the main features of the Spanish political-economic model during both the growth and crisis periods. Analyzing the causes and consequences of the continuing economic crisis in Spain, this book delves into five analytical axes: the evolution of the growth model; the role of Spain in the international division of labor; the financial sector and its influence on the rest of the economy; changes in the labor market; and the distributional consequences of both the expansive phase and the later crisis. Furthermore, contributors examine the formation of a triangle of actors (the government sector, building sector, and financial capital) that shaped the Spanish growth model, together with the effects of Spain’s membership in the Economic and Monetary Union. Also considering ecological problems, gender issues, and the immigration question, this book challenges the alleged recovery of living conditions during recent years, as well as the explanation of the crisis as the result of irrational behaviors or the greedy nature of certain actors. The Political Economy of Contemporary Spain provides a coherent explanation of the Spanish economic crisis based on a pluralistic approach, while proposing several measures that could contribute to a transformation of Spain’s economic and social models.

"In the 1950s and 60s, Spain underwent one of the most rapid processes of economic development the world had ever seen. Most existing analyses of these process explain the "Spanish Miracle" as a product of the unleashing of market forces and of changes in economic policy made by the Franco regime in the 1950s. Political Economy of the Spanish Miracle provides an alternative explanation of Spanish economic development, analyzing the Miracle from an interdisciplinary political economy perspective that treats capitalist growth as a complex and dynamic interaction between capitalists, workers and the state. The Spanish Miracle is linked to changes in Spanish society produced by the Spanish Civil War, to the class structure of the regime brought to power by that Civil War, and to the interaction between domestic social struggles under the Franco regime and Spain's insertion into the international political economy of the Cold War capitalist world. Ambitious in scope, Political Economy of the Spanish Miracle both revises conventional understandings of Spanish economic growth and situates Spain within comparative discussions of development in the twentieth century. This book will be of great interest to readers in political economy, economic sociology, historical sociology and Spanish and European history more broadly"--

In the 1950s and 1960s, Spain underwent one of the most rapid processes of economic development the world had ever seen. Most existing analyses of this process explain the “Spanish Miracle” as a product of the unleashing of market forces and of changes in economic policy made by the Franco regime in the 1950s. Political Economy of the Spanish Miracle provides an alternative explanation of Spanish economic development, analyzing the Miracle from an interdisciplinary political economy perspective that treats capitalist growth as a complex and dynamic interaction between capitalists, workers and the state. The Spanish Miracle is linked to changes in Spanish society produced by the Spanish Civil War, to the class structure of the regime brought to power by that Civil War and to the interaction between domestic social struggles under the Franco regime and Spain’s insertion into the international political economy of the Cold War capitalist world. Ambitious in scope, Political Economy of the Spanish Miracle both revises conventional understandings of Spanish economic growth and situates Spain within comparative discussions of development in the twentieth century. This book will be of great interest to readers in political economy, economic sociology, historical sociology and Spanish and European history more broadly.

In the 1950s and 60s, Spain underwent one of the most rapid processes of economic development the world had ever seen. Most existing analyses of these process explain the "Spanish Miracle" as a product of the unleashing of market forces and of changes in economic policy made by the Franco regime in the 1950s. Political Economy of the Spanish Miracle provides an alternative explanation of Spanish economic development, analyzing the Miracle from an interdisciplinary political economy perspective that treats capitalist growth as a complex and dynamic interaction between capitalists, workers and the state. The Spanish Miracle is linked to changes in Spanish society produced by the Spanish Civil War, to the class structure of the regime brought to power by that Civil War, and to the interaction between domestic social struggles under the Franco regime and Spain's insertion into the international political economy of the Cold War capitalist world. Ambitious in scope, Political Economy of the Spanish Miracle both revises conventional understandings of Spanish economic growth and situates Spain within comparative discussions of development in the twentieth century. This book will be of great interest to readers in political economy, economic sociology, historical sociology and Spanish and European history more broadly.

A challenging re-examination of Spanish history, questioning orthodoxies about Spain's economy and society.

Spain is at the epicentre of a crisis that threatens the future of the Eurozone. This book explains the deep historical and structural roots of the current crisis in Spain. It analyses the nexus between European circuits of financial capital, urbanisation, and the emergent dynamics of state austerity and popular revolt.